Green Hills Butterfly Ranch – Belize Diary, January 28

Green Hills Butterfly Ranch founders, Jan and Tineke, were our closest friends when we lived across the road at Mountain Equestrian Trails. When we weren’t busy with guests, we dined together and went for nature walks by the creek-bottom pasture land where blue morpho butterflies roamed free. They taught us about wildlife and introduced us to breadfruit and other local delicacies.

Jan and Tineke were great fun, extremely knowledgeable, and supportive as we navigated our new landscape. It was they we called when a scorpion stung our daughter, or some other critter showed up unbidden.

Jan and Tineke have since moved on, but we were keen to revisit Green Hills and spend some time with the butterflies.

We couldn’t help notice the house looked the same and the landscaping was as pretty as ever.

Odaly met us in the parking lot and ushered us into the butterfly house where insects sipped on Gatorade-soaked dish sponges.

One butterfly was drawn to Bob’s shorts.

Another found Camille’s bicep interesting.

Next stop, the caterpillar house, where butterfly eggs are brought to hatch and feed and pupate.

One of their jobs, Odaly told us, was to harvest the chrysalises and hang them from microfiber-covered shelves. She showed us how easy it was to detach and reattach each little gem.

When we were finished gawking at the butterfly circle of life, we sat and watched the hummingbirds.

These tiny little guys were immensely fun to photograph, so we lingered, but eventually, we gave up our seats to a new wave of visitors.

As we were leaving, we took a long look at the MET Driveway, one we had driven, walked, and ridden down so many, many times. It still looked the same, wildly inviting and promising adventure.

What a year that was, fourteen months of trial, error, and triumph that tested our mettle and turned us into a power couple—committed to each other, resilient, and not afraid of anything.