I find it easier to bring my potted plants of Milkweed into our mobile butterfly habitat, because obviously, the leaves (which they eat) stay fresh; instead of having to snip stems of Milkweed and sticking them in floral picks. The consequence of bringing in the whole pot is, the caterpillars like to chrysalid on the rims of the pot. Once they've devoured all the leaves, I like to get the plants back outside so they can regrow. I gently remove any chrysalids on the rims, reattach them to a stick and place them back into the indoor habitat.
Well, yesterday we had a busy day and I forgot to reattach a few Chrysalids. To my lovely surprise, this morning I looked on the kitchen counter and saw that two Monarchs had emerged from their chysalid in the small dish they were laying in. One was hanging from my Himalayan-salt candle holder (shown above), and the other was sitting upright, on a cloth. What truly amazes me is 1) being cold-blooded, they need warmth (generally obtained from the sun), to get them moving inside, to emerge. 2) in their hanging position, the weight of gravity is what helps them to emerge so gracefully and allows their wings to remain straight while they fill with fluid and then dry.
Hmmm, I could not tell you how many times I've found butterflies having emerged from their hanging chrysalids, have fallen down and their wings saturated (with the fluids they expel). I have also found them fallen, with their wings all folded in on themselves; having dried in that position they will not survive, because they will not be able to fly. Yet these two Monarchs managed to beat the odds regardless of their seemingly non- supportive, external circumstances (their wings were still wet), but both beautifully intact. Like it was no big deal to them. :-) Simply phenomenal to me. Indeed, WE are no less phenomenal in using our will to Fully LIVE...no matter how dire circumstances may appear to be on the surface. These moments are called miracles. BE the miracle!
Update: After blogging this, I noticed the only evidence that these two had emerged is one empty chrysalid-shell. No fluid stains (which are brownish-red), to be found...anywhere.
Well, yesterday we had a busy day and I forgot to reattach a few Chrysalids. To my lovely surprise, this morning I looked on the kitchen counter and saw that two Monarchs had emerged from their chysalid in the small dish they were laying in. One was hanging from my Himalayan-salt candle holder (shown above), and the other was sitting upright, on a cloth. What truly amazes me is 1) being cold-blooded, they need warmth (generally obtained from the sun), to get them moving inside, to emerge. 2) in their hanging position, the weight of gravity is what helps them to emerge so gracefully and allows their wings to remain straight while they fill with fluid and then dry.
Hmmm, I could not tell you how many times I've found butterflies having emerged from their hanging chrysalids, have fallen down and their wings saturated (with the fluids they expel). I have also found them fallen, with their wings all folded in on themselves; having dried in that position they will not survive, because they will not be able to fly. Yet these two Monarchs managed to beat the odds regardless of their seemingly non- supportive, external circumstances (their wings were still wet), but both beautifully intact. Like it was no big deal to them. :-) Simply phenomenal to me. Indeed, WE are no less phenomenal in using our will to Fully LIVE...no matter how dire circumstances may appear to be on the surface. These moments are called miracles. BE the miracle!
Update: After blogging this, I noticed the only evidence that these two had emerged is one empty chrysalid-shell. No fluid stains (which are brownish-red), to be found...anywhere.