Independence Day

Cy holds a newly escaped Monarch Butterfly prior to letting it go back to Mexico

For the last couple of weeks, we have been watching the metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to butterfly. Years ago, we used to have Monarchs visit our yard every year. They love the milkweed on our hill, but for years, the visitors have become less and less frequent until finally, they stopped coming altogether. This year Janene watched as a Monarch butterfly floated into our yard, landed on a milkweed plant and then flew off. Later when she went to look at the plant, she noticed a very, very small caterpillar. We took the milkweed plant into the house and watched the daily- even hourly, change as the caterpillar grew and became a chrysalis with little gold spots.. and then today the butterfly emerged, shook some liquid off it's wings, and took off from Elsie's hand, heading south to Mexico, where the cycle was to begin again. Isn't nature amazing!