toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject: Monarch Chrysalis - 12/22 Update |
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So I am out pulling up dead annuals, cutting back frosted perennials and generally cleaning up and found this hanging from the rim of a pot of Lavender.
Monarch Chrysalis in December ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
It is absolutely beautiful in person. Lovely green with gold, not yellow but gold, dots around that edge and a couple of gold specks further down that look sorta like the eyes of the butterfly looking at you. The chrysalis is becoming transparent, you can barely see the shape of a wing and some of the markings.
We will be checking on it several times a day in hopes of seeing the butterfly emerge. Just hopes it realizes this is December so she had better head south asap after coming out 
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
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Last edited by toni on Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:10 pm; edited 1 time in total
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eileen
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Scotland
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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What a lovely thing 'your' chrysalis is. I hope you manage to see the butterfly emerge as it's a fascinating process.
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glendann
Texas
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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What a find toni I hope you see it emerge from the
Chrysalis.That would be something to see.
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but by the moments that take our breath away.'
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toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:17 am Post subject: |
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It is magical isn't it? When I first saw it I thought someone had hung a jade bead there and couldn't figure out why. Just a little slow but then I never expected to see a chrysalis on Dec 13th.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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gfreiherr
Knoxville, Tennessee
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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What a nice present, it looks like a Christmas ornament hanging from the pot. Thanks for sharing. 
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"A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul" ~Sadi
Live, Love, Laugh...Garden
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Netty
Regular Plants Contributor
Southern Ontario zone 5a
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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That is beautiful Toni!
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daisybeans
annapolis md
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| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:20 am Post subject: |
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How is the chrysalis today, Toni? Any new developments?
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"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence
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Droopy
Regular Plants Contributor
Western Norway
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| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Wow! It really is beautiful. I would probably have camped next to it if I ever saw one outside here. I hope your tenant will hatch safely.
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toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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I can see it still hanging out there this morning, haven't gone out to take a closer look.
Yesterday I did check it several times, I can still see it in there and the chrysalis is still green so it looks like everything is proceeding just fine.
I went on a search for something still in bloom that the emerging butterfly could feed from and at the Home Depot garden center found two
Scabiosa caucasica (Pincushion Flower)
with blooms and buds that are now repotted and sitting near the chrysalis.
I needed new ones anyway, mine died during the heat last summer. It seems like there were always butterflies landing on them over the years so hopefully the newest arrival will enjoy them too.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana
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toni
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North Texas, Zone 8a
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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There had been no change in the Chrysalis since I found it but I still hoped it would survive.
This morning it was still hanging there but just a few minutes ago I looked out and it was gone.
Not opened up like I had hoped but broken off. I found it about 10 feet away laying on the soil of a pot I have planted bulbs in. It had been bitten off most likely by a squirrel since I also found a hole dug in the soil of a pot next to where the chrysalis was hanging....signs of a squirrel looking for buried nuts.
It really was too late in the season for any other outcome I guess. But since I have several more Milkweed plants in the ground for next year maybe there will be another chance.
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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
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Droopy
Regular Plants Contributor
Western Norway
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Ouch! I'm so sorry for the late not-to-be-butterfly. Fingers crossed you'll have them around next year.
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eileen
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Scotland
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| Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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I was really hoping that you'd posted news of the chrysalis having opened to reveal a butterfly. What a pity it didn't get a chance to survive. Fingers crossed you'll have many more next year.
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daisybeans
annapolis md
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| Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:22 am Post subject: |
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Aw, that's disappointing... well, like you say, you've got the conditions for more next year. I hope so too.
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"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence
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