Butterfly Garden

How did I not post about our big butterfly activity! We raised butterflies last Spring! We bought the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden to put in Sam's Easter basket that year. All we had to do was order the eggs. When they came in the mail, unfortunately, they already hatched, which is understandable since it doesn't take long for them to hatch.

They started out so little! Then they grew and they shed their skin several times, which was pretty neat to see the little fuzzy balls everywhere in the cup, along with the frass-waste. They made this cool silk stuff and they ate a TON! Then, one day, they went and hung upside down. They slowly, very slowly, formed their chrysalis. We were even able to watch them as they did it! And we got to see the shaking that it did when it was scared. We transferred them to the pavilion for them to hatch there. We watched the chrysalis darken until they broke free and sat still to let their wings expand, and the red juices that they secreted. We finally released them a few days after they became butterflies, and never saw them again. Bitter sweet. I have bought her several kits since then, like Lady Bug Land and the Ant Hill. I am waiting until she shows interest and one or the other, but I am sure they will be just as fun!