Using the swan plants that Te Ara Wha grew last year,
this summer we have watched the life cycle of
13 monarch butterflies
and have successfully
set them free.
From the tiny egg
emerged tiny caterpillars,
which devoured our swan plants
as they grew bigger and bigger and bigger.
A gorgeous green and gold chrysalis
which then turned black and then clear,
so we could see the wings of the monarch inside.
Sometimes we were very lucky and got to watch the butterfly hatch out of the chryalis,
pump up its wings and dry them slowly,
before taking off to discover the world outside.
Fly free!
