Monarch on Blossom

This is my last picture from the butterfly exhibit at the Jackson County Fair. I hope that some day I'll get the chance to take pictures of these in the wild, but I certainly enjoyed this amazing opportunity. I got to see and take pictures of Painted Lady butterflies too, and even a Monarch emerging from its chrysalis! What an unforgettable experience this was! I encourage all of you to find out if there's a butterfly house near you, or, if that's not possible, think about purchasing a butterfly chrysalis so that you can hopefully be there when it emerges!

Here are a few fun facts about Monarch butterflies that you may not know!
☻ Monarch butterflies migrate 2,000 miles during late summer and fall, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and return to the north again in the spring.
☻ Monarchs take four generations to make complete a migration. The first three generations live for up to six weeks, but the fourth generation lives for up to six-eight months as they migrate to a warmer climate, hibernate, and then start a new first generation in the spring time.
☻ Monarchs are poisonous and develop this toxin from the milkweed they eat in caterpillar form. This toxin builds up and remains in their body after they transform into a butterfly and begin a nectar diet. Most animals avoid their bright warning colors, but some are immune to the poison, finding them merely distasteful.

If you would like to find out if there's a butterfly establishment where you live, here are some links:
The Butterfly Website: Butterfly Gardens and Exhibits
The Butterfly Site: Butterfly Houses, Farms and Gardens

If you are interested, there are many stores online that sell "butterfly kits" (and other types of insects and critters too!), and more searching will reveal that you can find many types of butterflies and moth caterpillars and adults for sale!