Storm damage on Blue Ridge Parkway waiting for damage to be cleared
Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos and Thankful Thursday
I made a wall pillow (suitable to hang outside) with milkweed and a Monarch. I gave it to my son who might or might not hang it up somewhere.
The UU Congregation in Black Mountain (UUCSV) had a great project for the religious education classes. (I recently said I wish I'd been able to attend a religious education program like the Unitarian Universalists have.)
In Religious Education this month we've been learning about pollinators and how incredibly important they are to ecosystem. We had the chance to observe some mature caterpillars last Sunday as they began the process of transforming into their chrysalis phase (pupation), and now those chrysalis are hardening.
Day 1 - this is what the caterpillars looked like when they arrived April 16th. Notice how tiny they are!There is just a little webbing in the cup, and the food substance* (at the bottom) is smooth.
*This paste provides all the necessary nutrients for rapid growth, including carbohydrates (sugars), proteins (such as soybean meal, casein, or yeast extract), lipids (vegetable oils), vitamins, and minerals.
Day 6 - This is what the caterpillars looked like just 5 days after they arrived! You can see they've more than doubled in size (and grown-ups say human kids grow quickly)! There's a bit more webbing in the cup, the food has been disturbed, and you can see evidence of waste & molted skin.
Day 13 - April 28th. Our caterpillars (Painted Lady variety) have now all formed their silk pads to attached to the lid, made their "J" shape and shed for a fifth time creating a chrysalis (or pupa). The chrysalises (or chrysalides) quickly begin to dry and harden after this final molting.
For more videos of this process (by a Monarch group) see this site:
There's a Facebook video (reel) of the chrysalises being transferred to the butterfly habitat...I hope it works to see this next step. https://www.facebook.com/reel/2559825441143110
Adult Painted Lady Butterfly from the internet.
Change is good, I love the butterflies. Beautiful view of the mountains and sky. The flowers are lovely.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a great day!
I love seeing all the possibilities these days. Hopeful.
Delete...let's make the midterms a show of force for a change for better!
ReplyDeleteYes, the hope for a positive change is what keeps us going every day!
DeleteWatching the lifecycle of butterflies is so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing about them coming out of their cocoons, but have yet to actually witness that.
DeleteUUs are a good bunch of people.
ReplyDeleteI do look forward to going to a UU church wherever I may move to.
DeleteThat is unique religious education, not that I don’t approve. 😀
ReplyDeleteNice double negative of approval there! I wasn't in a Sunday School which did any coloring of pictures, since Christian Scientists don't do any pictures of any characters from the Bible stories. I learned the stories. But UU kids get to learn about all world religions and some of Bible stories, just not as much.
DeleteI've met a few nice UUpeople, leftist, and one who was relentlessly trying to get me to join. I didn't think UU did that, but anyway I explained I was Catholic so I was already committed. Whereupon he said oh don't worry, we'll take just anyone! Hm. Maybe an outlier there.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear about someone proselytizing UU's. I have been in mixed groups where a UU will explain about their tolerant, social justice, welcoming (LGBTQ+) and ecological attitudes. Usually they answer questions. I have even said I don't proselytize about it because I believe everyone should find their own spiritual path.
DeleteBeautiful flowers and some memories of Blue Ridge Parkway which we drove along on a vacation many years ago! I recently went to a Rotary Club pollinator talk and learned a lot of interesting facts.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you learned about pollinators and also enjoyed the Parkway. They are both pretty special.
DeleteBarbara, your Painted Lady butterfly is perfect. I also love the picture of the rocks by Shelley Hale, Hawksbill in Linville Gorge Wilderness. Striking!
ReplyDeleteThanks...those photos are borrowed from the internet. Don't know what I'd ever see without it, during cold of winter and early spring, or when I'm sick, I depend upon the steps taken by other photographers.
DeleteSo wonderful to be with you!
ReplyDeleteAwe, you're always welcome! Come on over and sit a spell, here's an extra rocking chair for you, and a nice drink of something...and we can share stories. But I think I'd honestly rather visit you! I want a cat to sit on my lap!
DeleteI love the false indigo! And the caterpillar saga is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I imagine you sitting on your porch enjoying the evening, if it isn't too cool. Glad to have you a consistent blogger friend!
DeleteI like the false indigo! The butterfly change/religious analogy strikes a wonderful chord with me :) Thank you for linking up!
ReplyDelete