Friday 10 October 2008

Butterflies

I've been looking after a caterpillar farm over the holidays (as you do) and, yesterday, a butterfly emerged;
a little, female cabbage white.
Here she is, fresh out of her pupa:



(you can tell she's a female by her slightly green colour
and the two spots on each of her top wings)

...and here she is taking her first flight:


Watching her wheeling exuberantly up into the air filled me with delight.



As you can probably tell, I love butterflies,
both the real life varieties and the arty~crafty kind.
These two reside on my fridge door:





The first one was created by one of the children I worked with last year and the second was bought from an art market. By the way, the second butterfly is much, much smaller in real life. They were both made with overhead projector plastic, permanent felt tip markers, thin magnets (the kind you find on the back of junk mail calendars) and a dusting of glitter. One of these days, I'm going to make some myself (and if I had a dollar for every time I've ever said that I would be a very rich woman indeed.)

I try to encourage butterflies into my garden by growing plants that they can breed on. I have milkweed in my back garden for wanderer butterflies and nasturtiums in my front flower beds for the cabbage whites.

Nasturtiums come in such a wonderful array of colours:






As well as admiring butterflies I've been crafting, of course.
I found a sweet crochet lacy scarf and tried to track down the pattern but came to a halt when I reached this blog because it's written in Chinese (I think). So, with the help of Dot Matthew's directions for the Fancy Fans Stole, I worked out the pattern myself.
This is what I've come up with so far:



I think that it's working up prettily but, with warm weather really and truly upon us here in Perth, I won't be wearing it anytime soon.
I'm having fun anyway.




I hope your week's blessed with fun too.
Butterfly kisses to you.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hardly ever see butterflies anymore. When I was little they were always flitting about. They are lovely...
'As you do' made me laugh. I say that too about things you never usually do!!
Nice crocheting. I must get Sharon's hat out again. I am sewing today though.

lupinbunny said...

Cabbage moth caterpillars will eat all your vegies though! They're not one of the ones to encourage, imo...
I like my silverbeet more than I like them.

Nan said...

I am a "one of these days" women as well, there are so many things I want to do and think "one of these days" I am going to do it!

Very cute start on the stole, looking forward to seeing it progress.

Butterflies were the theme of my daughters wedding. I have never seen one like the one pictured in your post. I don't know a lot about the different verities, but I enjoy them just the same.

inkberryblue said...

Hi 2paw, lupinbunny and nan! Thanks so much for stopping by.

lupinbunny,

It's my understanding that cabbage white caterpillars don't eat silverbeet at all. To my knowledge, the larvae feed on plants containing mustard oil, hence their attraction to nasturtiums. I might have trouble if I grew brocolli, cauliflower or cabbage but, personally, I like working with permaculture principles that see "pests" as an essential part of a garden's ecology.

I like snails too. =]

Judy Merrill-Smith said...

It's so great to witness such a simple, yet beautiful moment in life, isn't it? I love nasturtiums, too, though I haven't grown them in years. Maybe next year!

knightlyknitter.wordpress.com said...

I've had a lovely time wandering through all the pics and posts I've missed over the past month or two! As always your photos are stunning, I am envious of your fan scarf, and your crocheted wire and bead bracelet is fabulous!!!
(And now to add you to my bloglines so I can't lose you again!)
Happy Saturday - I hope you have a beautiful spring day tempting you into the garden today :>

magnusmog said...

I'm a nasturtium fan too, I like to serve the leaves and flowers in salads.

I love the shot of the butterfly setting off. What a priviledge to see the first flight:)

Anonymous said...

beautiful butterflies, real and not.
I have lots of nasturtiums too, they're great for eating if you can get to them before the caterpillas!

Caitlin said...

My mother loves butterflies and the benefits they bring to her yard and garden. I remember when she planted large Butterfly bushes years ago, and didn't realize how quickly they grew or spread, nor how much care they required. It's still a joy to see them in full bloom with butterflies everywhere!

Alas since moving out of my parents house and into a different region, and I hardly ever see butterflies anymore. I miss Monarchs most of all. I've seen a few in my new location, but they've all been dead, perfectly intact specimens laying in the grass. It makes me sad.

Rachel said...

Your nasturtiums are beautiful!

Feral Housewife X said...

nice pictures! i just love looking at your springy pictures 'cause here in greenville, sc... usa --- its really getting chilly!