Monday, June 8, 2009

Zen & the Art of Butterfly Rearing

This weekend, Dad had the idea for us to walk on the college campus that is near us. We never go there so it was a nice change. :) We found this very cool Zen garden to play in too! On our way out the back door, we noticed a sign that said keep pets outside...OOPS, Mom and Dad forgot to stay out! BOL! Really though, we didn't see it on the way in but don't worry...I was a very good girl and didn't dig or do anything naughty. Mom and I just played a little tag and some other games.

There she goes!

I can always catch her though but she never gives up trying to outrun me....silly humans! :)


Then we did a little synchronized jumping! I think we should go on the road with our act! BOL!


And of course, some posing! This is MY personal favorite. ;)


But Mom liked this one better...go figure!

And don't forget, Dad was with us too!

And now I will finish off with the end of the butterfly story! If you recall from a couple of weeks ago my Mom still had little caterpillars in her classroom. Click HERE to see that post. Well, week 3 after their arrival was filled with j-shapes and chrysalises!

I LOVE the gold flecks in the Painted Lady chrysalis....so pretty! If you look closely I bet you can see some things that will be butterfly parts when they are ready to emerge. Also, check out those strong silk buttons they spin to hold themselves up! Amazing!


After about 7 days inside the warm, cozy chrysalis the butterflies decided to emerge and this is what they looked like! GORGEOUS, aren't they! Look carefully at the one on the orange and you can see that it is using it's proboscis to sip sweet orange nectar.


Mom took her class out to release the little butterflies and it was quite fun according to her. She said some of them didn't want to leave though and it was tricky work to carefully get them out of the net.


Mom let them crawl on her finger and then she would slowly let them crawl onto her student's fingers and then they would fly off! She says the kiddos were grinning from ear to ear and it was fun to see! They said, "Bye-bye butterfly" as each one flew off! I hope they are happy in their new outdoor home now. :)

20 comments:

Woodrow, Luna, MJ Campanella said...

looks like alot of fun - oops sorry you didnt see the sign - great pics you look so pretty on the rock

the butterflies are very pretty and your post was very educational - thanx

our mommys job isnt that interesting - all she bring home are trial minutes - dont know what they are suppose to be - but they make good chew toys to shred.

woodrow sweetie mj

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

I loved your Zen Garden pikhs - I'm glad your pets behaved!

I enjoyed the synkhronised jumping pikhs!

Your poses were pawesome!

Tank woo fur sharing the butterflies too!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

The 'splorin' Wolfies said...

love the butterflies! we think it is no fair that you can't use the zen garden after you were such a good girl!!

dreameyce said...

Awesome garden pics, and I love the butterflies! So cool!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

A Zen garden - now there's an excuse to use when TD is digging outside - just working on my Zen garden, Mom:)

So glad the butterfly project was such a big success.

Tail wags, the OP Pack

JD and Max said...

Hi Nala - love the Zen garden, the photos of you and your mom jumping are pawsome! You're both so graceful it makes us feel a bit clumsy in comparison. The butterfly pics and story are brilliant - thanks for sharing that, we loved it! Tail wags - JD and Max.

The Army of Four said...

I LOVE the pix of you posing on that rock! Just beautiful! And hey! That sign is disCRIMinatory! I think you should file a lawsuit.
Tail wags,
Storms

Allison Walton said...

Ooh--the Zen garden looks like fun. Did you feel zen when you left?

Wuv,
Gus and Waldo

Abby said...

OH how fun! Great pictures as usual! We had so much fun here with the butterlies too- thank you!! We need to get together soon!

Lina, Alih and James said...

I like the pic of you guys jumping "together"... :)

Now, are you a super model, Nala? James is asking, 'cause judging by those "posing pics" he's sure you are. Sooooo pretty... He says Heidi Klum is no longer his favorite.;)

Great story about the butterflies.. I bet the kids loved it.

Stinkin' kisses from Sweden.

Dughallmor Beagles said...

Hehe, that jumping pic is fab! And your favourite pose is also ours :D
The Red Admirals are so beautiful, how fun to watch them grow and then let them go, bet the kids were all like proud little parents! We had a Peacock butterfly stuck in our house a few weeks ago....Mum managed to help it out, hope it survived, it was so pretty....no photos though, typical!
Love your Wordless pic too....nice butt!
Slobbers xx

Selba said...

Wow.... we love your posing picture! so cool!

The butterfly is so pretty... gotta show this to grandma, she loves butterlies but affraid to be near to them, silly human! *woof woof woof*

Licks,
Adele, Vincent & Bella

The Oceanside Animals said...

No pets? Doesn't sound very Zen to me ...

Rufus and Indie said...

You always have a great time with your mom and dad!
Those butterflies are so beautiful!
Kisses
Rufus and Indie

Molly the Airedale said...

The butterflies are so interesting and so beautiful! Your mom's students must just love her!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Ruby and Penny said...

We love the sychronized jumping picks. That game looks like fun.
Great butterfly project. What a great way for kids to learn.
Love Ruby & Penny

Life With Dogs said...

That synchronized rock jump takes the cake! And it's great to see the little ones taking flight. What is your next fun school project?

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

woowowoooo...
what a beautiful Zen garden....
and sure you're a very very very educated girl!!!!!!!!!
we love All your pics but the one where you and your mom are jumping is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you're a wonderful couple of gorgeous and funny girls!!!!
We love you sooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!
you had great project.....hope your mommy could come soon to know us....we would love make a project with her!!!!!!!!!
You are very very special for us!!!!!!
Sweet kisses and lots lots lots of love!!!!!!!!!!

kate said...

beautiful garden - beautiful butterfly - but most of all - BEAUTIFUL DOG!!!!!!!! love that pose on the big rock!

Unknown said...

Hi Nala,

That Zen garden looks really cool! I'm glad you got to sneak in a little play!

And I LOVE that photo of synchronised jumping!! How brilliant to catch the moment on camera when you're both in mid-air!!!

Like the posing shot too - my human says she agrees with your human on which is the favourite...but I agree with you! Hee! Hee! :-)

OOh - and thanks for the update on the butterflies...they are so pretty! I'll bet the kids had a GREAT time releasing them - it's always so nice to see wild creatues go back home...

Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane