I just released my first successfully raised butterfly yesterday (a monarch). I've never raised cats before and really enjoyed doing it. The grandkids just loved the whole experience too. Think we're hooked now.
Success!
Awesome!! Isn't that such a neat feeling? And such a great learning experience for the grandkids.
Terrie
Raised my first cats this year too. It was just a great experience. I was surprise though at how much the whole family got into it. (Not the actual feeding, cleaning, etc. LOL!) Guess no one can resist a butterfly.
Congratulations on the monarch!
My mom watches the cats while I'm at work because she works at home. I was in a hurry one morning and left the Monarch cats with her and I told her to dump the frass when she fed them. She gave me her puppy dog look and I told her raising butterflies wasn't all about the fun of releasing them - and if she wanted to do that part she had to help clean up after them, too! Dad thought it was hilarious!
LOL! Role reversal huh?
LOL--sounds like my grandkids. They thought the whole process was wonderful but thought cleanup time was "yucky!" It's great having them involved since they are shorter and lower to the ground. Now they go outside every time they're here and check all the milkweed plants for cats (and they have better eyesight than me too!). I promised them that next year we will put out more plants for them to lay eggs on so they are very excited. My granddaughter had trouble accepting that it's too late to get started with that project this year.
Ha! I'm with her. I have trouble accepting it's too late to get started on that project this year too! Although I can probably sneak in a little fall planting. Trouble is the stock is soooo stressed from being in pots in the heat by now I haven't had great success.
But I do have some grand ideas for next spring!
That's how I got April to accept that we couldn't do anything this late in the year--we've gone through all the catalogs picking out plants for next spring. She's so excited!