Cocoon attached to pot.
Cocoon opening
Released butterly
Click on photos to enlarge.
When my friend Aurora Michel invited me over to her garden to possibly see monarch butterflies emerging from their cocoons, I hoped to see the entire process. Alas, no butterflies did emerge, but I did get some good macros of the cocoons and butterflies, as seen above!
Below are photos earlier taken by Aurora and sent to me to entice me over to see the real event: (Again, click on photos to enlarge.)
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
A wonderful set of macros Judy. I so love butterflies 🦋🦋
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When I get down or stressed or tired, I go out to the hammocks and there is almost always some species of butterfly swarming around the tabachine bush/tree..It is such good therapy watching them and hearing the birds.
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Sounds wonderful to me Judy
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Amazing photos, Judy! Thank you for sharing!
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We had six emerges one day last month. today I saw a new chrysalis. The stuff of magic.
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It is. Nature is amazing.
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Nice shots all the way around. Those gold accents are magical.
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Do you mean on the cocoons? And one had what looked like a little jewel embedded as well but couldn’t capture it in the photo.
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Yes. I’ve seen the gold accents on cocoons at Meijer Gardens during the butterfly event. They have a hatching house. I tried to find the post to share with you but was unsuccessful.
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Amazing how those gross caterpillars turn into such beautiful butterflies! Its like magic
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I know.. and I wonder how they feel when they come out of the cocoon, unfold their wings and realize they can fly!!!
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Do they look down and wonder where the rest of their body is, only to realize its now wings on their backs? lol.
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Perhaps they start flapping them to dry them out and rise in the air and think it is a miracle. Or do they even think? I may have an idea for another children’s book. I’ll put it on the list!
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I love that idea. I have a few of my own children’s books and published one through Lulu Press. I haven’t figured out all the technical stuff with Amazon. Its all very difficult but what amazes me is when I see traditionally published children’s books that I’m sorry to say, are awful! I review books on Booksprout and I have had to withdraw my “promise” to leave a review because a few of the books were so bad I couldn’t even believe it, and that is being kind. It wasn’t a matter of opinion it was a matter of being realistic!
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It would be hard. On Booksprout are you able to leave negative reviews?
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You can but it is frowned upon if you don’t contact the author to say why it was a bad rating. I have just pulled my “promise to review” back so I don’t have to say anything.
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Can’t figure out how they know what to do when they come out of their metamorphosis.
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I can’t understand how they know to move on only a few legs after having all those legs and long body. And, yes, who teaches them to flap their wings and fly? Its not like they have mama butters teaching them.
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How beautiful 😍
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Great close-ups
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Royal pictures
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Wish I’d seen an actual emergence. Glad my friend caught some.
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