We raised 3 caterpillars from start to finish, at our house, and we fostered 3 other caterpillars, for a friend, until the chrysalis stage, when they got moved to the friend’s house. Those also hatched into adult butterflies. The milkweed plants flowered beautifully and then turned into multiple seed pods per plant, thus assuring next year’s milkweed crop and a new batch of caterpillars to watch! My kids and I learned a lot about the different stages of the caterpillars as they are growing and the ultimate joy of seeing the adults emerge a few weeks later. The last one hatched in the last week of August and would have had a chance of making it to Mexico. We’d like to think that he made it!
Newly-emerged butterfly
Newly-released monarch butterfly
Butterfly on milkweed leaf
Love these photos of the butterfly! Wow, they are gorgeous!
I dropped in when I saw your comment at the oatmeal post–I hope you have many bowls of fully cooked oatmeal thanks to the “bain-marie” crock-pot method.
Thanks for taking time to write!
Ann
I am glad you enjoyed the story of The Queen Susan! The Knitter magazine is going to feature the story. We are all so pleased that the shawl will be seen by people outside our tiny group. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment!
Lovely butterfly