It all started this spring when we found a fuzzy green caterpillar in one of our flower beds. I put him in a mason jar with some leaves and sticks and got the kids all pumped about watching our caterpillar go through his big change. We spent hours watching him, feeding him, "helping" him climb the sticks and carrying his jar home around. Delia was especially into the caterpillar and gave him lots of love. Alas, we killed him.
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Seeing her interest, though, sparked the idea for Delia's birthday present-- a couple caterpillar and butterfly books and this Butterfly Garden. (Here's a bit of a product recommendation. We ordered it off Amazon and LOVE IT!! If you're looking for a gift that will teach, engage and amaze this would be perfect!)
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The Butterfly Garden came with a certificate for mail-order caterpillars. From Insect Lore we received 5 little black caterpillars in a jar with thorough instructions and food. For a week we watched them eat and eat and eat so much they more than quadrupled their original size and had to shed their skins multiple times. Then, amazingly, all 5 caterpillars crawled to the top of the jar and hung upside down in a little hook shape. We knew from the instructions that in the next few hours they'd harden up and make their chrysalides. Sure enough that is exactly what happened!
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Once the caterpillars were safely dangling in their chrysalides, we could gently hang the disk they latched on to in the Butterfly Garden and wait for them to emerge as butterflies. Even in their cocoons they were fascinating. They vigorously vibrated from time to time as a natural instinct to ward off predators.
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In our house we were just blown away by the opportunity to witness this process. The caterpillars did exactly what all our books said they'd do. Dave and I even found ourselves watching what was going on in that little jar at night when the kids went to bed. Ella's been inspired and has been creating all sorts of butterfly artwork and journal pictures of the changes she watched the caterpillars go through.
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Just ten days later and we are the proud parents of 5 beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies. We'll watch them for a few days and feed them watermelon slices and flowers from the garden and then set them free. What an experience this has been for all of us! What a creator our God is!
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6 comments:
that is exactly what our church does every year for easter (same housing and all). i love watching it every year and i am sure your girls loved it even more.
heather
That is so cool!
this is amazing! our two girls love butterflies and this looks like a perfect project!! so cool!!
:) shannon
Glad you liked the Butterfly Garden. We've done it every summer for three years now and it is just as amazing each time. We've been giving them out as gifts as well.
Tip: I ordered replacement certificates on e-bay. (just don't bid against me!!) :-)
Um....Best. Post. Ever! :)
Yeah! I'm so glad it worked and I'm TOTALLY stealing this idea -- I'm scouring our shelves for butterfly books (and thinking of ordering few and grabbing some at the library). I'm looking for butterfly crafts and pictures. So amazing. Thanks again for a great idea.
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