This year for their 7th birthday, my fiancee Christine bought her twin daughters a kit to raise a small group of Painted Lady Butterflies.

The kit included a netted pavilion and several larvae, complete with two jars containing food for the larvae. During a two-week period the caterpillars matured and formed their chrysalises. At that point they were placed in the pavilion, where they transformed into beautiful butterflies in just a few days.

Once they were able to fly out of the pavilion, they were released into Christine's back yard, where they stayed for several days.

Click on any image to enlarge.

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