This is the concluding chapter of the metamorphosis saga, in which a black swallowtail caterpillar hitchhiked from the nursery to our home on a fennel plant. I watched the caterpillar grow, and pupate, and finally, emerge.
The backstory: As I walked by the chrysalis one morning early last week, I touched it gently. To my immense surprise, it reacted almost violently with a series of jerky movements. (I had no idea they did that.) I went to work and when I returned, I saw that it had opened.
Such a tiny opening! I immediately started looking for the butterfly, and there it was, drying its wings on the lawn.
End of saga. I was lucky to be able to follow it from beginning to end.
Digging RI 
Love it! Thanks for sharing.
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Glad I’m not the only person who loves this stuff.
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So wonderful to read and then to see photos, wow. thanks.
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This entire experience was too interesting not to share!
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Hi, dn. I’ve missed too many posts due to a yahoo problem. Your butterfly is gorgeous. I’m so glad you got to see the entire process. Lucky!
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Thanks, CJ. Hope you are having a great summer!
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