Imagine the scene - the little 4-5 year olds have been nurturing the caterpillars, watching them turn into chrysalises, and finally witness the glorious moments when they hatch out as beautiful butterflies. Such was the case in our reception class where Mrs O is invited in to take a photo (ok I had an ulterior motive)... and with her little hand inside the unzipped-net 'cage taking the utmost care not to upset the delicate little things.. when one flies out.
AAAAGH! Somehow instead of spouting some expletive then flapping about like a crazy bat she takes several swift steps to the window and gently cups the little escapee in her hands. Inviting the teacher to unzip the cage, instead she is guided to release the little 'painted lady' into the wild where it sits, shivering on a dandelion surrounded by little children exclaiming and trying not to push and shove and land on it.
I am now known in the staff room as the butterfly killer. Oh woe... the horror, the shame...
I'd better get this printed out and try to make amends. And stay well clear of the other butterflies. And hope we don't find a dead butterfly outside the classroom tomorrow.
Thank you so much for stopping by to look at / comment on Coco tiptoeing through the bluebells yesterday - I had been tempted to post another of just flowers but I liked her fuzzy little face peeping through - so I'm really glad you did too.
Sorry! But you set the butterfly free! That should make you a heroine! Butterflies are a sign of freedom and should not be penned! Anyway, you are my heroine! Sweet photo!
Hahaha, Phil! Your story just had me in stitches imagining the kids piling in around the escapee ;-) Beautiful shot of the butterfly should make up for it though! Keeping my fingers crossed it's still alive tomorrow
Awww- cute story. I think your butterfly friend is probably just fine. After all, she'd just hatched so her muscles were a bit weak. She probably did some wing exercises for a while and then went her merry way. I remember hearing that butterflies must work their way out of the chrysalis in order to make their wings strong. If you "help" them, they will never fly properly. Nature has its own ways- and I'm sure you didn't derail them. Lovely shot!
Beautiful shot for 2 reasons: 1, it just looks lovely and the patterns are great and 2, the image of the children so patiently waiting for the cocoons to open up is lovely. The bit where you enter the story shrieking is just hilarious though! Hehe have a good weekend!
@bobfoto I didn't actually kill anything!!! I prefer @allred Mary Lou's version of me being a freedom fighter... @hasselhotch Where exactly does it suggest I entered, shrieking?! :)
I have these in chrysalis form in my fourth grade class right now. Maybe they will be butterflies tomorrow ...I keep hoping fora good photo of one on a chold's finger....we will see.
Hahaha! Great story and shot! Now, come on, you can tell us, I bet it was all really a cunning plan so you could get a nice, natural shot of the sweet Painted Lady!
Beautiful shot. Glad you were able to take a few of the escapee. I'm pretty sure the newly hatched do sit and dry their wings a bit before they can fly away, so I'm sure you didn't do any damage. Everything looks intact. Not like you bent the wing or anything. She just wanted to get out of school early.
May 15th, 2012
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Sorry you are now the Butterfly Killer.......
Funny story.
@hasselhotch Where exactly does it suggest I entered, shrieking?! :)