Butterflies

Two years ago, Jasper's Grandma gave him a butterfly kit.  It comes with a big mesh "butterfly pavilion", which is a place that the butterflies can fly around in when they emerge from their chrysalises, and you send away for the caterpillars.  They send painted ladies, which are the most widely distributed butterfly in the world. That way, if you release them, they won't become invasive as other species might. They come in a jar which is a self-contained world- it contains breathing holes and a brown goop made from dehydrated plants that has all the food and water they will need.  When they pupate, you put them into the pavilion and wait to see them emerge.   We saved the pavilion and wanted to get more caterpillars this year.  We bought some at Wings of Wonder (now closed) and were delighted to see how tiny our caterpillars were and how quickly they grew.  Once the adult butterflies emerge, you can keep them in the pavilion and feed them orange and watermelon slices, release them outside, or release them in your home and leave food out for them.  We chose to set them free.  Jasper was delighted with the whole process.  If you've raised butterflies once, you'll probably wish every kid could do it.

They were really tiny when we got them!

They grew...

...and grew...

...and grew!

We moved the pupas carefully to the pavilion to await their emergence. 

Setting them free.

Jasper picked a morning glory and watched a butterfly feeding from it in his hand.

One rested in a nearby tree.

Another rested on a flower.