LA Museum Takes Visitors Outdoors to Showcase Nature

April 24, 2012

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California, is redesigning its grounds to bring visitors outdoors, where they can spot hummingbirds and butterflies, take nature walks, and get their hands dirty in a garden. The L.A. museum's 1.4-hectare outdoor campus - previously a parking lot - has become a living exhibition of biodiversity.

For some of these young students, it's their first time getting hands-on experience in a garden.

Teacher Eva Eng says her students have been learning about plants in science class.

“Oh, they really like hand-on things, getting their hands in the mud, and planting seeds, watering them, watching them grow. And it's a wonderful experience," said Eng.

The scientists at the museum have come outdoors to describe plants and insects in their natural setting.

“They're pretty amazing looking things," said the scientist. "This one's a parasitic wasp with an egg-layer or ovipositor that's long than it's body....”

Part of this newly landscaped area, now home to butterflies and wasps, was once a parking lot. Today, it's a natural laboratory.

Karen Wise, the museum's vice president for education and exhibits, says the scientists here study the impact of climate change on species around the world.

“And we do that here in LA as well, and now, we're opening up the whole museum, making it an indoor-outdoor experience, so that our visitors can be a part of that experience," said Wise.