Old news, but I just have to tell you that last Friday our Monarch butterfly emerged from the chrysalis - and we saw it happen!
First, the chrysalis turned dark, then transparent enough to see the wings inside.
This is kind of blurry, but you can kind of see the wings inside -
The next morning we asked Dancer to keep watch and sure enough, while the eggs were sizzling and the toast was popping she cried out, "It's coming out!"
Quick as a wink it was out and clinging to the clear chrysalis. The wings were small at first but grew larger before our eyes until we were all wondering how it ever fit in a chrysalis so small.
You know, like after you have a baby and wonder how it ever fit in your womb and if you could get it back in. Not that you want to. You know what I mean, don't you or am I the only one who wonders about these things?
Here is the empty chrysalis -
After several hours we took him outside for the big release. He flew right out and landed on the end of a pine branch. He stayed perched there for hours.
Today we saw a Monarch flying around our yard and of course wondered if it was "our baby". We were able to witness him both pupating and emerging and are grateful for the opportunity to witness this little miracle of life! We hope he stays around to sip nectar from our garden flowers!
