Monarch Butterfly Hatching

I spent my childhood summers catching insects, frogs, turtles, salamanders, toads, minnows, and the occasional snake.  I still have some of that curious little explorer in me, so when I found a tiny monarch catapillar a few weeks ago I was delighted at the idea of watching the amazing metamorphosis happen before my eyes.

I was a diligent caretaker, bringing fresh milkweed leaves to my growing caterpillar every day.  

The payoff happened on the morning when I woke to find the chrysalis about to break open.  I took it outside, and this is what I saw...

 

Here I transferred it to a flower in my front yard.

I caught it's first flight...

 

 and its first landing...