Metamorphosis

Watching the milkweed we planted last year host monarch caterpillars has been a joy for us this spring, and a firsthand nature lesson.

I saw an adult monarch fluttering around a few weeks ago, and later saw the eggs she had laid on the undersides of the leaves. We watched the tiny caterpillars get bigger, and Violet brought a few inside to continue growing.

The last week, we could hardly keep them content, as they munched through leaf after milkweed leaf.

The one on the right is bent into a "J," soon to become a beautiful green chrysalis.

After school and work the next day, Stace, Violet and I watched it shake and shimmy its way into a chrysalis. It was entirely fascinating.

The chrysalis changed over the ensuing days, adding a bright gold strand about one-third of the way down, and gold dots on the lower two-thirds. It was hard to photograph through the netting of the butterfly habitat, but my dad did a pretty good job here.

 On Violet's birthday, we noticed the chrysalises had turned very dark. The shell of the chrysalis was now clear, and the darkness of the butterfly's wings was in view.

I wish I'd taken a photo, but it was a busy birthday morning (and I didn't know what a tight time schedule I was on!). When I returned home from the school run and PTSA meeting, two new butterflies greeted me!

What a treat for Violet!

Following advice online, we fed them juicy watermelon and mango.

 We kept our winged friends a few days, and then prepared to release them. We hand-fed them watermelon - they each climbed onto a piece, and used its straw-like proboscis to suck up the sweet juice.

 What a miracle!

Watching them flutter away was beautiful.

We're now watching the plants, eager for more caterpillars to start the cycle again.