Caterpillars!

This is the first attempt we have made at hatching our own butterflies, and so far it's going well. So well that i'm pretty much jumping out of my skin in impatience, I can't imagine how the children are feeling... well actually they do seem to be handling it a lot better than I am! Funny that eh?

Initially we had them in a store bought butterfly enclosure, but quickly

realized that when it comes time for the little critters to make their

chrysalis' we wouldn't be able to open the top part to give the late 

bloomers their lunch, plus the holes in the netting seemed to be

just big enough that they could sneak out (yep, there were a few attempts!)

So then this beauty was conjured up. It used to be a guinea pig cage,

but serves our purpose. 

For a while the caterpillars did not seem to be interested in anything 

but food, and they grew rather large (I guess there was not need to really 

switch enclosures, because with the size they grew to, it would not be such a big issue)

*Just as an interesting side note, below you can see little yellow pebbles,

they are not to be confused as food, because it already was food... if you catch my drift*

I was away for the weekend, and was eager to check on the progress 

when I got in, and this is what I found!

(one of the big caterpillars snuck out somehow, and made himself 

a nice little chrysalis OUTSIDE of the enclosure!) 

6 more have made some chrysalis' (or on their way to)

nicely hanging INSIDE the enclosure

One even found our lilac leaves a great little place, nicely 

curling himself in to a little J.

So that's what we're up to right now, eagerly awaiting some butterflies. 

Stay tuned!!!