NOT ANOTHER ONE?!

[applestar]

This morning, as I was passing the milkweed patch by the patio with my arms full of tomatoes and beans harvested from the garden, I saw a 5th instar on top of a Common Milkweed plant.

Having just opened the new envelope of tags for the 101st and 102nd butterflies, and having labeled what I thought was the last chrysalid to form last night. And having thought with some relief that I was done with the Monarchs and that this last chrysalid should be, knock on wood, the bearer of the 25th tag in the new series, I think some of you would understand my sentiment when I told that caterpillar I saw this morning that I was sorry but my hands are full and I won't be able to bring it inside with me.

My kids are so jaded now they won't even come outside with me to release the butterflies. 3 more took off this afternoon.

I think you would also understand that now I'm feeling like I abandoned him/her.

[skates4marty]

Relief when it's over? Yup, been there. Jaded kids? Yup, seen that. I wrote about my early monarch raising for the Washington Post. It ends with the jaded child. Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00624.html

They asked me to do a companion piece for Kids Post, to run on the same day:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00704.html

(The print version had a box with all the important Web sites: MonarchWatch, Journey North, etc.