Monday, April 05, 2010

New beginnings


I think it might be a little late in the year but we have some butterflies on the way. There is great excitement with the kids as they watch this miracle unravel before their eyes! There are actually 7 ctaerpillars - all have been named as well!



This one keeps climbing back to the top of an almost threadbare stem, I guess it just has decided where it wants to emerge from! (Altho' the drama queen in the house suggested that perhaps it is a suicidal one and this is the tallest stem from which it can hurl itself earthward.....)



This one, named Rosie as it is on a rose bush, has started to "jay" itself.....



While this one, Charles - no apparent reason for the name- only took 90 minutes to go from 'jay' to chysalis. Amazing. It was a rather hot day so maybe that helped as the other two turning 'jays' have been jay-shape for 24 hours with no sign yet of their green 'shell'. I hope they're not dead, but the weather has (predictably) taken a turn for the chillier and there is an anxious wait going on!

Meanwhile, my work colleague has given birth to her first baby - a boy, born 5 weeks early. Have given her the Easter weekend off to recover....


16 comments:

Owen said...

Wow, fabulous to see that all unfolding like that... and I hope he wasn't suicidal... the last thing we need : suicidal caterpillars.

and WV is "sheltur", as in, come in she said I'll give ya, sheltur from the storm..."

Mr Toad said...

CRRRROOOOOAAAAAAKKKKKK ! ! !

The Sagittarian said...

Owen - early bird kudos to you! ah, good to see you quoting Uncle Bob there...and loved the croak. Lets hope Mr Toad is the croaker and that Tim the Tiny Caterpillar doesn't croak as well!

kj said...

sag,you and yours are wise to follow the paths of the caterpillars! how interesting it will be to actually see the transformation!

love
kj

The Sagittarian said...

Hi kj, you know...I've just been over visiting at yours (lefta comment earlier and I always ike to call back and see whoelse has contributed!) :-)

VioletSky said...

I always loved caterpillars as a kid. Used to put them in jars (nails through the lid to make breathing holes) with a bit of grass or a leaf to munch on before they would ultimately die.

Most of the chrysalis I see are white - this green, shiny looking one intrigues me.

Word verification is 'flecks', as the butterfly will be when he emerges.

Lynne with an e said...

Wow! Beautiful and amazing: I love the photos and the unfolding story that goes along with them. And the DRAHMA, dahling. I've never witnessed this process up close and personal myself, so this is a real treat. Great to have this event to share with your girls. Must be so nice for you to be home. It's lovely to have you back in the blogoshpere, too.

The Sagittarian said...

Violet - Oh, we used to do that with snails (poor things); am pretty sure this will be a monarch butterfly, they used to live in thousands in a tree in our park next door but for the past few years seem to have depleted in numbers!

Louciao- ah yes, its good to be back! I might even manage a tipple tomorrow. However, am away again next week and then the weeks after will be chaotic. It would be cool to curl up in a cocoon and while away the time rweading, sipping and munching....

Steve said...

I must confess to a bit of a phobia where butterflies and moths are concerned though I'm OK looking at pictures of them and recognize their beauty - I just don't want them flying into my face!

VioletSky said...

Ah, well, no wonder I hadn't seen one like it. Ours come from their winter home in Mexico and this is purported to be one of the worst ever for the butterflies.

word verification this time is roylavon - do you not have an Avon River in your town?

The Sagittarian said...

Steve - agree, they do have rather mean faces I reckon but they are very pretty!

Violet- yes we do, it winds its way through and around the city. Near where I work is a rather charming bend in the river itself and we can go there for lunch or to feed ducks...

Selina Kingston said...

Oh! That's lovely. How very patient of you to find them and photograph them.

The Sagittarian said...

Selina - thank you! Mind you,. we're getting abit anxious about them 'hatching'...no sign of that yet and my daughter really wants to see the butterfly emerge....

Meggie said...

5 weeks early?? I was never so lucky!
On the other hand, I hope the little fella is ok, & also the hardworking mother!
Are those all Monarchs?

Anonymous said...

There is something very comforting isn't there, about watching ane xplosion of life go on all around when we live in such doom and gloom times.I'm even looking forward to my kitchen windowsill being lined with jam jars of tadpoles/frog in various stages of evolution.
Wish you could webcam the transformations coming...

The Sagittarian said...

Meggie, hello you! :-) Yep, all Monarchs and we have another chrysalis now with another on "j", with 3 still gobbling! And yes, wee baby and mum both at home now.

Misbehaving, I totally agree...I never tire of it. I'm so glad to have 4 seasons altho' I moan about the cold, it really is a wonderful thing watching nature doing her nice stuff!