Monday, July 30, 2012

A Magical Moment


Earlier this summer, as Reece and I explored the forest, we looked for monarch eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. We were lucky enough to find two eggs, but unfortunately they didn't hatch.  We continued our search with each adventure into the forest, but were not able to find another egg. I told Reece we would try again next year.

But two weeks ago on our evening walk a lovely little monarch caterpillar was making its way across the road right at our feet. I knew by its size and the fact it had left its food source that it was most likely getting ready for its final molt and trasnformation into a chrysalis. We picked it up, brought home some milkweed and created a little home for our caterpillar.


By the next day it was hanging upside down in the shape of a "j" ready to begin the process of becoming a butterfly.


We awoke the next morning to discover the chrysalis, where it would remain for nine days.


On Friday morning last week, we took a little peek at our monarch and it had changed colour, becoming a little darker and you could begin to see its beautiful monarch wings. I knew it would hatch soon. With Reece and I leaving for an overnight visit to see my sister in law and niece the monarch came along too.


Later that afternoon we were all amazed by the magical moment in which this beautiful butterfly emerged. The beauty, the simplicity and the peaceful atmosphere overwhelmed all of us. We watched as she prepared for life as a butterfly. Within in half an hour I gently placed my finger underneath her front legs and she crawled onto my finger.






We each took some time with her. We named her Clara. We watched her, we examined her, we were amazed by her.

As time passed, she began to move her wings, the next step in preparing to fly away. We gently moved her to a lovely blackberry bush in the backyard and watched, anticipating her first attempt at flight.


She sat for a long time gently stretching our her wings and then with a final flutter she flew off.  Good bye Clara!

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Linking up with Heather at Naturally Crafted Mama for {Into Nature}

Linking up with Brooke at Barefoot Five for Touch the Earth


29 comments:

  1. I love the observation opportunity you had and butterflies are the best! I love the intense concentration on the children's faces!

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    1. They were pretty fascinated with the whole thing.

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  2. oh, what a beautiful moment!!! so much magic in the cycle of life.

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  3. oh how wonderful! They will remembered this forever. Clara:)So sweet!

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    1. It was a pretty special moment when she emerged. And I do hope they remember it, I know I will :)

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  4. Very cool! I would love to watch that in our house. Maybe next year!

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  5. AMAZING - I love the photos and that you got to witness it! What a great memory.

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  6. So sweet! What a wonderfully magical experience!

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  7. I think she was meant to find her way into your home what a great story you have and the kids will surely treasure the magic that happened in their home:)

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    1. Awe, thanks. It was very special and we can't wait to do it again next year.

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  8. How amazing to get to experience and share that! How many kids read "Very Hungry Caterpillar" but never get to see it in action?

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    1. So true! Funnily enough we have not read it...I do think we have it somewhere, I should dig it out.

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  9. That is magical! I remember finding a crazy looking caterpillar as a kid and putting it in a jar and then it sat in a chrysalis for so long we thought it must have died. But one morning it was this stunning yellow swallowtail. I was about 5 at the time. I still remember it vividly.

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    1. I do hope Reece remembers it, I fear he might be a little young. We will do it again next though, hopefully we will find a ton of eggs and raise a bunch of them.

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  10. How lovely and wonderful. :)

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  11. How beautiful! What a find! WHat an amazing experience for Reece {and you

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    1. It really was beautiful. We were pretty lucky to find her.

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  12. Lovely, what a great thing for him to witness.

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    1. Thanks, and yes, hopefully he will get to see it all again next year :)

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  13. a magical moment and magical journey too! so beautiful!

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  14. okay, so i'm a little over tired.. but this brought tears to my eyes. Such richness in the process of discoveries.

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