Raising Monarchs part three

Eventually, the green chrysalises turned dark in color, and then black. Several days later they became clear and I could see the colors inside – orange, black and white, patterned just like a butterfly wing. One morning, I noticed long legs sticking out of a chrysalis. I watched, transfixed, as the first butterfly emerged. I kept watching as it stretched its wings to their full size, and stayed clinging to the empty chrysalis, drying and adjusting its proboscis (the tongue it uses to sip nectar from flowers). It rested there for a few hours getting used to life outside the chrysalis. More butterflies emerged.  Then one by one, as they seemed to be wanting to get out, I released them. They lingered on my hand for a bit before taking flight. And then they flew only as far as the leaves of the nearest tree, and stayed there to soak in the sun, while still adjusting to being a butterfly and having new wings. 

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