Monarch Butterflies

At the Mar Vista Garden Showcase in April 2011,
they were giving away milkweed plants.
I took some and planted them in a large pot and they grew.
In October, a butterfly found my plants and laid eggs!
(click image to view movie)

The caterpillars fed on the milkweed and grew big and fat.

In order to help protect them from predators
during their chrysalis stage, I put them in jars,
the collection of which I dubbed the Monarch Motel.

Approximately two weeks later,
the butterflies began to emerge from their chrysalises.

Then I released them to take their first flights.
(click image to view movie)

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