This morning a male (two spots on lower wing) monarch butterfly emerged successfully in our butterfly house.
In southern Florida the monarch butterfly can go through as many as six broods.
The flight of the monarch is unique to its kind as it flaps its wings vigorously before gliding. This male worked its wings doing this exact motion before landing on a tree nearby.
Another monarch butterfly emerged successfully from its chrysalis in our butterfly house, making our total rise to 140 healthy hatches.
You would think after so many, it might become a little boring to witness. I have to admit the excitement only enhances, as we have witnessed that for one reason or another, not all are able to hold on tight, hanging with its wings downward drying successfully to flap and fly away. Those who end up with crumpled wings live out their lives in our butterfly house with plenty of nectar.
Another successful morning in the butterfly house with three new beauties, two males and one female monarch butterfly emerging from their chrysalis.
There is such a calmness that washes over me when I watch these butterflies enter the world, climbing onto my fingers and taking its first flight after their wings are dry.
With one injured wing, this male monarch butterfly has been found fluttering around our garden the last day or so.
Once he was shown to our lantana plant, my daughter and I watched him drink to his heart’s content. My daughter then began picking individual flowers and feeding him in her hands while talking sweetly to the stunning butterfly.
It just goes to show that if you slow down enough, you have the opportunity to witness nature at its finest.
For more information about monarch butterflies: visit my page: https://sweetbutterflybliss.com/monarch-butterfly/?frame-nonce=337ab32fc1
Almost a year ago my husband built my daughter and I a butterfly house, which has transformed in shape and size. Our house is positioned on our porch, giving us a great view from our family room to watch.
We started putting milkweed plants in the butterfly house, so we could witness the various stages of the caterpillar. I can still remember when my daughter saw a chrysalis being made. The excitement that bubbled over . . . mesmerized.
We have seen the life cycle of six species of butterflies so far.
On May 3, 2022, three years since we started the butterfly garden, I released six monarch butterflies into our garden that we successfully raised. Those six released were numbers 99-104.
I still cannot put into words how special and magical it is to have a butterfly sit on your hand waiting to take its first flight.
For more information about monarch butterflies: visit my page: https://sweetbutterflybliss.com/monarch-butterfly/?frame-nonce=337ab32fc1
