Raising Monarchs
The art of living purposefully.
A couple of weeks ago my cousin Luke Rowley called me, telling me that he had found over 35 monarch caterpillars. He asked if my kids would like to raise a couple. An emphatic “Yes!” came from the back seat of our Tahoe as I mentioned it to Curtis. So, we went over to pick up a few.
Now I know everyone knows how a butterfly forms. First, it is a caterpillar. Then, a chrysalis. And finally, a butterfly. But, have you ever had the chance to experience this amazing metamorphosis?
Because it is magnificent!
As you watch the small caterpillar doubles, then triples in size. Growing from something so small you can barely see it into something that takes up space.
It has life. It simply is. And it is stunning.
As it grows, it’s body changes. It starts out as a scrawny little thing, almost transparent, but as it grows it becomes a vibrant yellow, white, and black. Antennas form on its head. And it gets fatter and fatter.
Milkweed is the only food source that monarch caterpillars have. If it isn’t plentiful, they slowly starve to death and die. Because…
