"Twilight Garden" Cloche/Dome Display by Chris Lee

In Twilight Garden, Chris Lee composes a suspended moment of stillness and shimmer — a duet between air and earth. Encased in a graceful apothecary-style glass cloche, the scene brings together two radiant specimens: a Blue Doctor butterfly (Rhetus periander) poised mid-climb on a delicate branch, and a Persian Sapphire beetle (Protaetia cyanochlora) anchored below on textured grey stone.

The composition invites contemplation of balance: the ephemeral flutter of wings against the patient gleam of chitin. Velvet moss carpets the base, while dried blooms and twisting wood add narrative structure and environmental texture. It feels like a forgotten corner of a fantastical forest, caught between dusk and memory — glowing quietly in its self-contained world.

Specimen Identification:
Butterfly: Rhetus periander (Blue Doctor)
– Range: Central and South America
– Traits: Iridescent blue wings with pointed tails, fast and erratic in flight

Beetle: Protaetia cyanochlora (Persian Sapphire Beetle)
– Range: Iran and surrounding regions
– Traits: Jewel beetle known for vibrant iridescence, structurally colored elytra

Display Details:
Display Type: Glass apothecary cloche with domed lid
Base: Natural moss, wood, and bark forming a lush forest floor
Arrangement:
– Butterfly perched on a curved central branch near the upper third of the cloche
– Beetle affixed to a natural stone, grounded and frontal
Additional Elements: Preserved flowers, purple moss, twisting roots — all selected for mood and contrast
Presentation: A vertical narrative that encourages the viewer to explore from forest floor to canopy, honoring light, form, and the quiet lives in between