The Science Museum of Western Virginia has hired the man who’ll be tending the butterfly garden in the newly renovated Center in the Square, the museum announced Wednesday.

Lead animal care specialist Derek Kellogg will start work Monday, though the garden won’t be open to the public until May 11, 2013. He previously worked for more than four years as chief entomologist for the Dancing Wing Butterfly Garden at The Strong museum in Rochester, N.Y.

The Science Museum’s butterfly garden has been touted by Center in the Square as one of the biggest new attractions in the downtown Roanoke institute when it reopens on Campbell Avenue next year upon completion of its $27 million renovation.

The two-story, 3,000-square-foot butterfly garden will hold 300 butterflies at any given time, museum officials said.

Kellogg will also be responsible for the care of the museum’s “Living River” exhibit and various other insects and reptiles that the museum houses.

Kellogg will be hiring a full-time assistant and organizing a corps of volunteers, said Science Museum Executive Director Jim Rollings.

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