Yesterday was amazing, exhausting, worrying, and magical – all at the same time. You know we’ve been on chrysalis watch. Well, we went outside around 11 am to sit by the birdbath and watch the chrysalis, which had become a bit cloudy in places, something my friend said would happen before it started to separate. We sat there for a few hours, watching for any changes. One of us would go into the house to take a shower or make lunch, but basically, we were there all day long.
If Don saw a change, he would come get me if I was in the house. Same with me. It was a very breezy/windy day. About 2 pm, Don was on the phone talking to an old friend (he was stationed by the birdbath) and I came outside and immediately checked on the chrysalis. I could see that it had started to separate and part of a wing was emerging. Don immediately hung up, I ran into the house for my phone, which was charging, and I managed to get there right before as the butterfly was tumbling out of the chrysalis. Don was filming. I was filming. It was extraordinary watching the butterfly with small, wrinkled leaves clinging on to the chrysalis. The strong breeze was an ever present problem throughout the afternoon.
Gradually, the wings got a little smoother and the monarch climbed toward the underside of the birdbath. And so began another vigil. Four different times, he fell to the ground and we panicked and I managed to get him back up by using a long twig, which he attached to, then moving the twig to the chrysalis where he would re-attach to the chrysalis. Four times our hearts were in our mouths. I had read that it was crucial to get the butterfly back up to the chrysalis or the wings wouldn’t develop and it wouldn’t be able to fly.
He was weak, of course, having just emerged, and the breeze made things more precarious. We sat on the ground and throughout the next two and a half hours or so, Don or I would cup our hands on either side of the butterfly (far enough away that we didn’t touch him) to protect him from the wind. He hung there, resting, for quite a long time. Eventually, he started to flex his wings, opening them slowly. A bit later he flew down to Don’s jacket, which we had placed on the ground to cushion any more falls. He stayed there a long time. And then, around 4:30, he took his first flight. Wondrous. We had been worried about him, worried that all the falls damaged his wings. But he was okay.
Don was inside and outside, trying to start dinner because it was 6 pm at this point. Because the monarch emerged so late in the day, there wasn’t a lot of sunlight left and he was tired. Eventually, he took one more short flight and landed on a leaf on the ground right by the chickenwire fence garden. I sat there and waited and waited, hoping he’d fly up in a bush or a tree for the night, but he didn’t. He was exhausted. I was communicating with two friends – one raises monarchs – and as it got darker, I became more worried. He seemed too vulnerable on the ground. One friend advised me to put him on my finger, take him to a bush or plant and place him on the underside of a leaf, not too close to the ground.
Don went back outside with me and I picked up the leaf and somehow the monarch climbed onto my finger. (It was the most wonderful sensation.) I walked over to the bush we had chosen and held him near the underside of the leaf and eventually he attached himself to the leaf. Of course, I worried all evening about him, praying for his safety, but Don went out just now and he’s still there, safe.
I think we spent a total of 7 or 8 hours outside taking care of that chrysalis/monarch yesterday. Thank God we were there. We saved his life, not one, but four times. It makes you think about how perilous it can be for any newly emerged butterfly.
Anyway, I’m proud of him and I’m proud of us.
I took two videos and they are on Instagram. One of him emerging, and one of his first flight. Neither were edited because I wanted to get them posted and I was tired so you’ll hear Don say “I have to go pee” at the end of one.
Real life.
We are both exhausted, I’m really congested, we’re both sore from sitting on the hard ground for hours, but oh my, was it worth it! To see it happen when you’re raising them and they’re inside your house is amazing in itself, but to have the opportunity to see it happen ‘in the wild’ is extraordinary.
I kept the chrysalis and it’s on my little Plate of Curiosities.
Don named him Emby, for M.B., Monarch Butterfly.
The bear, the chrysalis, the monarch. It’s been an intense three days here at the cottage and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Nevertheless, it’s time for a bit of rest.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
This wondrous adventure you and Don have shared is so beautiful. It has made me cry because of the sheer beauty and hope of this new life, in these troubled times . Your kindness to this little creature warms my heart and my mind.
Thank you and Take Care,
Kaye
Park City, UT
Thank you for your kind words, Kaye.
Stay safe.
What kindness you and Don have shown to this little butterfly. I enjoyed the story and your photography is wonderful. A little miracle captured in pictures!
Thank you, Judy.
Stay safe.
Mazeltov! The miracle of birth. It is so important to keep them off the ground, because ants will eat them alive. Nature. I have found butterflies to be friendly creatures. They will fly around me in the garden, and not fly away as I move around. There is a wonderful new film on Netflix, My Octopus Teacher, about a relationship between a filmmaker and an octopus. Incredible and beautiful.
Don read the book that the movie is based on and loved it.
Thanks so much, Leslie.
Stay safe.
That is so exciting that you and Don were able to witness that and to save the beautiful butterfly! Nature is amazing!
It was an honor to be there.
Stay safe, Carol.
Oh how wonderful! So happy you had the privilege, and it is a privilege, to witness such a miracle of life. Now, I’m off to watch your videos.
You’ve certainly earned a day of rest. Stay safe! ;)
Thanks, Donna.
Stay safe!
What a beautiful experience! I’ve never seen such a thing. Thank you for sharing this.
You’re very welcome.
Stay safe!
You’re definitely in a nature wonderland at MHC!
Thanks.
Stay safe.
Amazing! Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Stay safe.
All life is precious. Thank you for the life you saved yesterday.
Thank you for your kind words.
Stay safe, Tana.
Saw your video on IG just as I was getting ready to go up to bed. Of course I had to look in your account to see if there were more and watched all. So sweet how protective you and Don were. That little guy was lucky he chose your yard to come into this world.
If you want to see what OUR part of the world is like, just read the quite embarrassing “letter to Washington” on Politico today. Yeah, that’s our town and all those embarrassing people are the old school longtime residents (we’ve only lived here 18 years). At least I was embarrassed FOR them. I always tell those who ask that we live in a Republican stronghold, but that doesn’t mean we personally know many of these one-issue voters. White. Republican. Catholic. Abortion-is-a-deal-breaker voters. Downtown is a tourist area so most locals don’t hang there much. At least not the ones we know. We never thought to ask about the politics when we were house hunting all over the 3 county area. This place won out because of the big kitchen and the good schools. And while the guy down the street flies his Trump flag year round, I take heart this election that there are almost as many Biden yard signs around town as there used to be Scott Walker signs.
Take care.
K.
I’m so sorry. They are embarrassing. The sad fact is that they aren’t embarrassed about their behavior at all. Hang in there, Kay. I’m glad you’re seeing Biden signs!
Stay safe.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this wondrous beauty.xo
You’re most welcome.
Stay safe, Annette.
I’ve read two amazing Monarch butterfly stories today, yours, Claudia, and this one: https://mymodernmet.com/monarch-butterfly-wedding-photoshoot/ . Take a look at the gentle interaction between the butterfly and the newly married couple. What a wonderous way to start a life together.
I wish I’d got video of the butterfly perched on my finger. It was an extraordinary feeling – a connection.
He flew away this morning, We miss him, feeling a bit empty without him.
Stay safe.
sitting here with tears in my eyes. a simple miraculous part of nature.
to know someone who shows such kindness and caring for a tiny creature.
who appreciates its life and its beauty. that is a true gift you’ve given to all of us.
I felt the same when you cradled a dying deer in your yard that someone had hit.
a speeding car. and a dying deer.
thankfully it happened by your cottage. so that you could make its final hours not alone
but those in peace.
I’m glad that I know you both. even if it’s only virtually. sending you love. xo
I’m glad I know you, Tammy.
Thank you for your kind words.
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia,
You and Don sure have had an exciting week! Thank you for sharing the details of your lovely experience! In January 2016 we found a monarch chrysalis hanging from the siding on our home. It was a miraculous process – the metallic gold on the chrysalis was impressive! I took pictures of each change starting with the hanging caterpillar in early January – mid February. We found the butterfly had emerged early one rainy morning and was laying in a puddle. I was devastated to think this poor butterfly never even had a chance to fly among the flowers. We quickly found a twig to help the butterfly. Although it was quite weak, it managed to climb out of the puddle with a damaged wing. We placed the butterfly in the lantana growing in front of our house. Slowly, it tried pumping its wings. I do have video of it finally flying from flower to flower. It stayed around for a few days (we have a lot of lantana!) then successfully flew off into the world. It is an amazing thing to witness in the wild, isn’t it?!
Wishing you peace, joy and good health :)
Hugs,
Christy
I’m so glad you were able to save that sweet butterfly, Christy. Good for you! Isn’t it a great feeling to help one on his journey?
Stay safe!
I’ve been watching the videos. I am so enchanted, as much by you and Don and your wonderful voices and the great care you took in bringing this new life into the world and ensuring he would make it! This was a big, beautiful gift today. Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Jeanie.
We miss him today – feeling a bit down. But happy we managed to save him.
Stay safe.
Oh Claudia! What a wonderful life! God gives us such delights to help us maneuver the hardpack.
Take care…
Kelly
Yes, indeed!
Thanks, Kelly.
Stay safe!
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. Stay safe and have a good evening.
Thanks, Cindy.
Stay safe!
happy birthday, emby!
claudia, i am so happy for you and don to have had another incredible experience today! thanks for sharing it with us through your wonderful writing and beautiful photos.
and thank you for saving emby … four times! you are heroes and great people in my book.
i can’t help but contrast your choices with a comment from my boss a year ago (maybe i mentioned it back then. sorry if it’s a repeat). i found a frog in my garage, but couldn’t get it outside before going to work (i let my landlord know, he set the frog free and sent me some photos captioned “frog relocation mission complete!” … haha). when i told my boss about it, she frowned and snipped, “oh, kathy! it’s just a frog!” yes, a frog stuck in a seven-car garage on a hot summer day, with no food or water, no family with him and no way to get out. ugh … she’s a reason my job is work.
anyway, thanks for being you and don being don … big-hearted, kind and generous people.
hope you both have enjoyed a quiet, restful day.
usual here. glad to be home and showered. did a couple things around here, going to make something simple for dinner (always … i am not a fancy person in any way) and read more of that agatha christie book of short stories.
oh! almost forgot … have you heard about “defeatbytweet.org”? i haven’t researched it, but read enough to learn it’s a political fundraiser where people can sign up to pay whatever money they want (pennies to dollars) for each tweet that pino sends. money to go to grassroots organizations in swing states critical to electing biden.
okay. need dinner.
have a nice night and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Yes, I’ve heard of them. Interesting idea!
I love that you made sure that frog was safe. That’s the right thing to do!
Stay safe, Kathy.