The Season's First Butterfly Hatches

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The entire life cycle of a butterfly is miraculous, but it's the final emergence that makes me want to cry happy tears.  Every. Single. Time. 

Robb and I had been out cycling, and came back to discover that the first of our brood of butterflies had hatched. Her wings were fully unfurled by the time we found her. 

I coaxed her onto my hand, and carried her over to flowers we knew Anise Swallowtail Butterflies fed on. 

She was entirely uninterested in the verbena. 

When I moved her over to the fennel (her host plant), she hopped right off my hand.  

After a few minutes, she flew away.  Watching butterflies that we've nurtured fly off into the world is always a beautiful, magical experience.  

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go rinse my eyes, and find a handkerchief.