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You are here: Home / Butterflies / Monarch Butterfly Update: Freedom Day

Monarch Butterfly Update: Freedom Day

Written by Jackie D'Elia  |  Published on February 13, 2011

Freedom! While I’ve become attached to this little guy and would love for him to stay here, I decided to take him where he’d be free to roam through hundreds of blooming native flowers. Buchanan’s Native Plants is a local nursery that specializes in native plants. After the freeze, my neighborhood doesn’t have much blooming at the moment. This nursery is the perfect place for my monarch butterfly to begin his wonderful life fluttering about. Thanks to Carol at Flower Hill Farm for some welcome advice, she suggested releasing him as soon as possible. With the weather forecasted to be in the 70’s this week, it seemed the perfect time to do so.

In case you are wondering how I know my butterfly is a male, I found out here at this helpful site and it is also shown here on Wikipedia.

Isn’t he cute?

He survived the first 48 hours in a 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft nylon photo cube that I found in the closet. I was perfect because it was easy to open and peak inside and it was white which let light diffuse in. I placed a 4 inch blooming gerbera daisy and some orange asiatic lilies inside for him to enjoy. Needless to say, he was very slow getting started. That’s been the case since I first found him on the milkweed outside as a caterpillar. He spent nearly 3 days in the j position and 6 weeks in chrysalis (normal time is about 10-14 days). I guess he preferred to move at his own schedule. He surprised me by surviving that long outside in January. (Read my post about my decision to bring him indoors before the BIG FREEZE)

Just hanging out

Back to the title FREEDOM….

We left around 11am yesterday on the 20 minute trip to Buchanan’s. I placed him in a clear plastic container with vents and headed east. We arrived at the nursery about 11:30am. I introduced the little guy to Donna Buchanan, the owner of Buchanan’s Native Plants and went for a stroll to find the perfect spot.

Well no sooner did I open the container, he flew up, up and away. I didn’t even have a chance to snap a photo, but I did find him resting in a crape myrtle tree about 20 feet away.

With so many flowering plants at the nursery, I know he’ll find plenty of food, water and shelter. If you are in the area, stop by Buchanan’s. You may find him fluttering around.

Day 2: Hanging Out on the Gerbera Daisy

Live long, be safe and happy my friend. Thank you for sharing some time with me.

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Previous Post: Macro Monday: Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle PhotographyMacro Monday: Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Photography
Change Today: Monarch Chrysalis Turns Black Next Post: Change Today: Monarch Chrysalis Turns Black

Filed under: Butterflies, Garden Centers and Nurseries

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carolyn♥ says

    February 14, 2011 at 11:09 am

    Such a lovely journey you’ve shared. It has warmed my heart. Thank you!

  2. Lori, Jacob & Mason Weisbeck says

    February 14, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Jackie – My kids have watched the video over and over of what we have called the birth of the butterfly. It’s amazing!

    Thanks for sharing such an educational journey of the butterfly for all of us.

    Lori

  3. Lori, Jacob & Mason Weisbeck says

    February 14, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    My kids have watched over and over the video that we are now calling the “Birth of a Butterfly.

    Besides being educational, what a beautiful thing to watch and experience. Thank you for sharing your talent.

  4. Laura says

    February 15, 2011 at 5:05 pm

    Such an amazing journey! Thank you for taking care of this butterfly.

  5. Bulb Hunter says

    February 21, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    What a wonderful story! Jackie, you absolutely take the most amazing photos.

  6. Jamie says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    I’m sure the little guy found plenty of nectar and a nice home at the nursery. We’ve spotted a few more of his friends and are waiting for the first ‘babies’ of spring.

  7. Benjamin Vogt says

    September 17, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    That’s so awesome! I let out 2 on Wed and it’s so cold they haven’t’ budged an inch. The last 2 of my 100+ I raised this summer just turned into chrysalides, too. I hope TX gets some rain and flowers soon!

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