MONARCH BUTTERFLY SERIES: Part 1
As you know, I LOVE butterflies- monarch butterflies so so much! In our garden, we cultivate and provide a sanctuary for the monarchs to eat, rest and lay their eggs as they make their migration journey.
We have several milkweed plants- their preferred snack and have relished in the joy of their journey. Last season, we witnessed one of their new cocoons (green and metallic gold!) in it stage of creation. One day it was there, the immediate next, vanished. After some sharing and discussion about this with my young art students, we deducted that maybe a bird ate our little cocoon.
Flash forward to today, in an effort to support the full maturation of our beautiful monarchs, we have created a monarch sanctuary in my art studio. This safe space is simply some milkweed, coconut fiber as a base and a large net “container”. So far, we have 10 caterpillars in short-term residence. Six are in their green/gold cocoon stage, three in the cocoon pre-phase (hanging upside down and attached to the structure) and one is still munching on the milkweed, but slowing down.
More to come as I share in photos and art about this metamorphosis. In the meantime, this painting above is one of my butterfly tributes, entitled, Monarch from my Flora & Fauna Collection, it is available to purchase on my website.
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In love, gratitude and beauty…
An Invitation to Inspiration 