Uli has been the director of our Butterfly House & Insectarium for the past six years. He and his five staff and 20 volunteers handle anything that has to do with making Magic Wings and the Insectarium beautiful. His job is a lot like mine: he has to mange the budget, coordinate staff, interact with guests, and step in whenever the horticulturalists and entomologists need a hand.
Uli, like Keeper Larry, has spent many years in the world of academia. He grew up and studied in Germany, earning a PhD in Agricultural Engineering and Plant Sciences. His work in tropical horticultural research took him to India, West Africa and Florida between 1987 and 2000. He has worked at both UNC Chapel Hill and the University of Florida.

Uli coordinates the Butterfly Bash. A great event for insect and plant lovers. This year it is happening on April 18th. Click here to learn more about it.

Uli’s work is not just confined to the big glass building. He helps with grounds everywhere. In the photo he is pruning the trees in Carolina Wildlife. Every year I ask him to come and help us out, and he always obliges with a smile on his face. Years ago, after a huge snow storm dumped about a foot and a half of snow in Durham, Uli came in and shoveled out the entire goat and donkey yard, and more in the Farmyard. Without Uli’s help the animals would have been confined to their stalls unable to walk through the snow.

That’s just the way Uli is: ready and willing to do what is needed!