Once, only once, have I been able to watch a chrysalis transform into a butterfly. Such a fascinating mystery to watch. We put it in a jar. One day we found a Monarch butterfly fluttering around the jar anxious to get out! It happily flew away.
One of our gardens is a designated pollinator garden. That means I allow the milk weed and other insect loving natural plants to grow as food for the Monarchs butterflies and other native insects. It is growing larger every year. I have even mailed milk weed seeds to folks interested in having beneficial pollinating plants for nature in their gardens.
In addition, I have great fun taking photographs of butterflies. Though often it is a real challenge!
one_local_gal 
Great shots.
Visiting from #5
And I was one of those recipients!
I was not successful… I have too much shade at the LakeHouse I think!
Great post! 🙂
Oh! I’m sorry, Nancy. Yes, mine are in full sun, but one would think ‘weeds’ grow anywhere! 😂
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
So true! Hmmmmm! 🤔
Butterflies are tricky to photograph. I can rarely catch them being still long enough to get a shot.
Same here! 😂
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
We have milkweed growing wild around the edge of our property. I had butterfly plants but where I had them was open and the winter killed them off. I love that you designated an area as a pollinating garden. You are amazing
Oh, Diane, you give me far too much credit. The garden is mostly all weeds! It’s easy! 😂😂
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
I love this Mitzy! It takes me back to my Second Grade classroom before I retired. Every year we would collect Monarch caterpillars and milkweed leaves. Sometimes we had 8-10 at a time to watch. The process of caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly is a true miracle of God and no matter how many times I am a witness it will always amaze me!
I bet your students loved that! It truly is amazing, I agree.