This queen stole our hearts for hours before she took flight to begin her migration journey southward.
On December 2, 2020, we bid adieu to a very special monarch butterfly. She emerged from her chrysalis and took to flight after a few hours of preparing her wings for a new adventure. About 10am in the morning, my daughter completed her daily garden check-up and discovered the newly-emerged butterfly struggling to find her footing on the flower pot from which her chrysalis hung.
Over the past week or so, we witnessed her bright green protective shell transition into a transparent viewing window allowing us to glimpse the delicately forming butterfly inside. When she finally emerged, we found ourselves in a whirlwind of excitement. All other activities ceased, and we took time to observe nature in a moment of pure vulnerability.
As the brand new monarch struggled to grip the smooth surface of the flower pot, we agreed to move her to a location in full sun where her soft, flowing wings could hang to dry. Before we took steps to transport her, she fell to the ground. Unable to support herself on the slim blades of grass, she could not set herself upright. In an act of kindness, my daughter extended a finger for this little beauty to cling to during her short trip to our young Moringa tree (moringa oleifera). She was then able to warm her body in the sun and exercise her wings.
For roughly 3 hours, we dashed in and out of the house to check on our regal garden guest’s progress. Each time we returned to find her alive and well, we grew more attached. Upon our last visit to the Moringa tree, our friend was missing. However, my daughter quickly spotted her resting on the Firebush (hamelia patens) in our butterfly garden reminding us that her stay was soon coming to an end. We gazed in amazement, took pictures and video, and savored the last precious moments as she opened and closed her wings gearing up for flight. In an instant, she took to the air and then swiftly glided over the fence to our neighbor’s yard to grace another family with her radiant colors of orange, yellow and black. Perhaps she will return to our garden in the spring entrusting us with her little ones. Indeed, we would be honored to care for the next generation of royal flyers.
Video of newly-emerged monarch in our home garden.
Photos of our beloved garden guest.
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