butterflies and bats

This summer we've been able to enjoy a little nature in our own backyard. We raised some black swallowtail butterflies that we brought in as caterpillars from our parsley plant. We made a home for them with left over pink tulle from Ellie's birthday and a tomato cage. We fed them fresh parsley daily and then had the privilege of watching them transform up close. I never realized their chrysalis forms from the inside out. Awesome metaphor there! Then, we got to set the butterflies free as they came out of the chrysalis. I think I was even more excited about this whole process than the kids were.

fat little caterpillars

shedding their skin to reveal the chrysalis

out of the chrysalis, ready to fly

set free!

enjoying a drink from our garden

our Monarch

Then yesterday, Jack spotted this little guy way up high on our front porch. I never would have noticed him. I thought he was sleeping (it was daytime afterall), but the zoom on the lens showed he was, to my dismay, AWAKE!