Butterflies

Last year, our friend Morgan gave Violet caterpillars and a butterfly enclosure for her birthday. This year, Vi was eager to watch the miracle of metamorphosis up close again.

So, at Violet's request,  Morgan gave us another cup of caterpillars (and their food) as part of her gift. They grew and grew, and became chrysalises.

Violet's kindergarten class is learning all about the topic, so I thought they'd appreciate our five chrysalises.

A few days later, they began emerging from their shells, and Mrs. Hawthorne and I fed them with sugar water. The children came up in small groups to get a closer look.

Meanwhile, Violet's classmate gave her an idea about how to put on a "butterfly show." She came home from school buzzing with her new idea, and after preparing the show, called us out to watch.

She silently crawled around on the seat cushions, and then slipped into the sleeping bag. After MANY silent minutes, she emerged, wearing butterfly wings and a headband with pipe-cleaner antennae.

On Friday morning, we let our five friends flutter to their freedom. The children formed a circle, and we opened the enclosure. Several flew up and away, to the delight of the students.




















Violet held the empty, papery chrysalises, and let her friends touch them gently.

One final butterfly seemed happy to stay within the netting, so I reached in and it stepped onto my finger, before finally flying away.

Mrs. Hawthorne got this photo and shared it with me, while Violet and I were more than happy to share this year's butterfly experience with her class.