The Monarch Butterfly is fascinating! It is a mystery of nature that enchants both young and old alike.

My interest began several years ago with one monarch butterfly.

Watching the beautiful creature flit around my garden, I observed the flowers on which it landed.

This prompted me to do some research on butterfly garden plants.

What I discovered is that there are two kind of plants to include when gardening for butterflies... butterfly nectar plants and butterfly host plants.

I created a butterfly garden plan which included both of these types of plants.

It wasn't long before... the monarchs arrived!

This led to more research and I decided to try my hand at raising monarchs.

I couldn't believe how easy it was and the miraculous butterfly life cycle captivated me!

Raising Butterflies

Here are the amazing butterfly stages you will observe....

	The female monarch lays a creme-colored egg on the underside of a leaf from the milkweed family of plants.
	The hungry monarch caterpillar eats many milkweed leaves and grows from the size of a comma to about 2 inches long.
	The last molting of the caterpillar's skin reveals a beautiful green monarch chrysalis (right). In about a week the chrysalis turns transparent (left) about 24 hours before the monarch emerges.
	At last the day has arrived! The newly emerged monarch is drying its wings. Notice the "empty" chrysalis from which the monarch emerged on the right.

Here is a sampling of the wide range of topics about everything butterflies found here at Glorious-Butterfly.com.

You Say....

• Ask a question or offer a tip about butterflies
• Share your pictures of butterflies
• Share your butterfly garden photos and tips
• Share your butterfly stories

Butterfly Store

• Butterfly Shop - favorite butterfly gifts, items and milkweed seeds for sale

Monarch Butterfly

• Tips on raising Monarchs
• Milkweed is the secret
• The amazing Monarch butterfly migration

Butterfly Garden Plants

• Butterfly gardening tips
• Butterfly host plant - what does the caterpillar eat?
• Butterfly nectar plants - favorite butterfly flowers
• Raising black swallowtail butterflies
• Outdoor nature activities for kids - kids love butterflies!
• Christian butterfly symbolism - truly a miracle!

Butterflies in the Classroom

• Butterfly science project ideas
• School bulletin board ideas with a butterfly theme
• Purchase butterfly photos of the Monarch life cycle
• Butterfly elementary lesson plans
• Butterfly raising kits for the classroom

Butterfly Bulletin Newsletter

• "What's New" at glorious-butterfly.com
• "Butterflies in the News" - current news stories about butterflies
• "Everything Butterflies" - unique butterfly gifts
• "Teacher's Butterfly Corner" - butterfly ideas for the classroom
• "In the Butterfly Garden" - ideas and tips

Are you ready? Let's begin our adventure into the world of the Glorious Butterfly..........