blooms and butterflies

a little family outing to the franklin park conservatory for blooms and butterflies.  the girls loved it.  we even have a caterpillar of our very own at home growing and changing in his little box.  and every morning adelaide is eager to see what great changes he has made.  as of now, he’s at least doubled in size.  he’s no longer completely black.  a new bright green striping has appeared, and his little home is covered with what looks like webbing.  he is getting ready to spin his chrysalis and become a painted lady butterfly.  a new book about butterflies is arriving soon so that we can continue to discuss all that we’ve observed.  this outing to the conservatory to watch the butterflies has happened once a year for a few years and we are starting to really enjoy the process.  the girls are beginning to understand more about what they see.  should we move from our fair city, it is something i will miss dearly. after all, my first mother’s day was spent with a butterfly on adelaide’s shoulder.