6.19.12

I'm pretty sure that I will NEVER tire of watching a Monarch butterfly emerge!

{FINDINGS}
0 eggs
0 caterpillars

{EGGS WAITING TO HATCH}
0

{HATCHLINGS}
0

{NURSERY GUESTS}
0

{CATERPILLARS}
1 Total

{CHRYSALIS}
26

{MONARCH's}
2 today ... 24 total

1 female & 1 male

6.18.12

This is what wild Milkweed blooms look like!  They are a gorgeous mauvy-pink and the scent is amazing!


{FINDINGS}
0 eggs
0 caterpillars

{EGGS WAITING TO HATCH}
0

{HATCHLINGS}
0

{NURSERY GUESTS}
0

{CATERPILLARS}
1 Total

{CHRYSALIS}
28

{MONARCH's}
0 today ... 22 total


***Sadly, I had to twilight a chrysalis today- one of the late instar caterpillars that I found must have been riddled with disease.  The chrysalis fully formed, but then became yellowed and spotty after 24 hours.  

6.17.12

I LOVE the sweet moments of release, and setting Monarchs free with my son!


{FINDINGS}
0 eggs
0 caterpillars

{EGGS WAITING TO HATCH}
0

{HATCHLINGS}
0

{NURSERY GUESTS}
0

{CATERPILLARS}
1

{CHRYSALIS}
28 + 1 new chrysalis!

{MONARCH's}
6 ... 22 total!


***3 female and 3 male Monarchs took flight today!

6.16.12

A few of the caterpillars that I have been raising, decided to make their chrysalids on the side of the glass aquarium that I have been raising them... creating flat spots on the chrysalids.  Sadly, this has created a few wing problems in some, but not all of the Monarchs that have flattened chrysalids. This Monarch, named Rainbow-Dash by my son, does have some wing damage on the tip of her upper right wing, but thankfully, it didn't slow her down --- she flew away just like the rest of our Monarchs today! 
{FINDINGS}
0 eggs
0 caterpillars

{EGGS WAITING TO HATCH}
0

{HATCHLINGS}
0

{NURSERY GUESTS}
0

{CATERPILLARS}
2

{CHRYSALIS}
33

{MONARCH's}
16

***We had 10 Monarchs emerge today, 7 female and 3 male!

6.15.12

It takes several hours before the wings of a Monarch are ready for it to fly!  The wings first must be filled with fluid, and then the need to dry and harden before the butterfly is ready to take off.  We keep them indoors to watch them for as long as possible before we release them!


{FINDINGS}
0 eggs
0 caterpillars

{EGGS WAITING TO HATCH}
0

{HATCHLINGS}
0

{NURSERY GUESTS}
0

{CATERPILLARS}
2 --- found two while hunting for eggs

{CHRYSALIS}
43

{MONARCH's}
6

***2 Male Monarchs emerged today!

6.14.12

We shared the experience of emerging chrysalids with two of my favorite kids! Bella & Zach watched as two ladies made their appearance!

Meet Maggie & Cass!

When we arrived home, we found our first male Monarch,  happily named by Bo, after one of his Daddy's friends, Mr. Mat!

{FINDINGS}
0 eggs
0 caterpillars

{EGGS WAITING TO HATCH}
0

{HATCHLINGS}
0

{NURSERY GUESTS}
0

{CATERPILLARS}
0 Total

{CHRYSALIS}
45

{MONARCH's}
4

6.13.12

From the see through chrysalis...

To the hanging to dry the wings stage...

To the hand-held stage...

To the release to go forth and populate the world stage!  Amazing!

{FINDINGS}
0 eggs
0 caterpillars

{EGGS WAITING TO HATCH}
0

{HATCHLINGS}
0

{CATERPILLARS}
0 Total
0 large
0 medium
0 small

{CHRYSALIS}
48

{MONARCH's}
1

Monarch 1: Female, Lucy.