My mother-in-law and I took Autumn to the Yankee Peddler craft show in Canal Fulton, Ohio, on Sept. 24. While there, I took Autumn into a butterfly tent, where dozens of butterflies sat among butterfly-loving bushes and up on the walls of the tent. Autumn kept saying bu-bye, bu-bye (which is not bye-bye, but butterfly).
When we exited the little tent, Grandma and a little triangular box in her hand. Inside was a chrysalis (pupae), and the lady said she thought the butterfly would hatch that Wednesday.
Once we left, I thought I should have bought a second butterfly so Autumn could take it to "school" with her. I guess there's always next year...
Anyway, Wednesday came and I brought the little box to work with me, because I didn't want to miss the hatching. I didn't need to worry, because nothing happened. Nothing happened the following day either. By Friday, I decided our butterfly was a dud. But because I'm a packrat, I didn't throw it away yet.
This Wednesday, a week after our monarch was to hatch, I noticed the chrysalis was purple, not green. I thought the poor thing died and rotted. I don't know why I didn't throw it away, but it's a good thing. Yesterday when we came home from work, lo and behold, there was a butterfly.
He's a beautiful black and orangish gold. He moved around a little last night and practiced stretching his wings. Autumn was happy last night, but this morning she was SO excited. Apparently, the butterfly needs to stay in his box for 24 hours after hatching so his wings will dry. Then he needs released in the daylight. So since Autumn was so pleased with him and since he needed to stay in his box, we brought him with us this morning. I would have loved to bring him to work with me, but I let him stay at "school" with Autumn.
This morning, we had five other toddlers crowded around looking at the butterfly, touching the box. The poor little guy probably never expected this much attention.
This is a fascinating thing for kids to see and I'd buy another chrysalis in a heartbeat if I was near the Akron company who sold us this one. If you want details on the company, you can visit their Web site here.