I planted milkweed roots
from Holland to help feed
monarch butterflies whose
numbers have dwindled
greatly these last many years.
Some grew tall, some shorter.
Pink and white and yellow
blooms, but no orange which
I was expecting. I saw three
monarchs in two months.
Then four caterpillars
appeared, chomping on
the milkweed leaves. After
many days, three disappeared,
but one, a pupa, a chrysalis now,
attached itself to the lip
of a planter on my porch. After
many more days, the pupa turned
dark, and in another day or so,
one morning she hatched, stayed
hanging on her husk for a while
exercising her beautiful wings.
Then off she flew. I hope she
finds blooms and nectar. I hope
she reaches her destination.
