Today is Learn About Butterflies Day!

A decade ago, I had the GREAT pleasure of buying two monarch chrysalises at our local YANKEE PEDDLER festival. Our son was only 3 going on 4 then! Oh what a fun activity to share with a child. Watching the chrysalis change and morph into a beautiful butterfly is an amazing way to share nature with your little.

The birth of a monarch butterfly. (I wrote this in 2003)

“Inside an emerald green color chrysalis awaits a monarch butterfly to be “born.”  They appear as if each is hand painted emerald jewelry graced with metallic gold and black accents. TRULY GORGEOUS! The monarch is snug and making a true metamorphous inside. Watching the two chrysalis emerge into two beautiful butterflies has inspired me to finally create the watercolor butterfly design I have been longing to paint.

The transparent chrysalis, is a sure sign the monarch is ready to emerge! As the monarch butterfly emerges … she stretches out her moist wings to gently dry them. After drying out their wings they began to drink the nectar from the black eyed susan and butterfly bush flowers I had ready for them. Spritzing their new environment with water for them to drink … I knew in 2 days it was time to let them go. Both butterflies were released and they are on their way to Mexico! To learn more about the migration of these truly amazing creatures.”

After letting the butterflies go, I hand-painted this butterfly artwork and designed butterfly wedding invitations.

{ Butterfly Wedding Invitations }

American Indian Legend

According to an American Indian Legend – If anyone desires a wish to come true they must first capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since a butterfly can make no sound, the butterfly can not reveal the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit who hears and sees all. In gratitude for giving the beautiful butterfly its freedom, the Great Spirit always grants the wish. So, according to legend, by making a wish and giving the butterfly its freedom, the wish will be taken to the heavens and be granted. We have gathered to grant this couple all our best wishes and are about to set these butterflies free in trust that all these wishes will be granted.

The butterfly is one of the most amazing creatures in the natural world.

I will close with my favorite quote EVERRR. …

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“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it turned into a butterfly.” This quote helped me through a very difficult time in my life. I hope it will uplift and inspire you.