This morning – happens to be Valentine’s Day – I was eager to publish my blog. I popped in my AirPods and picked a new playlist called “Country Lovin” on Apple Music to get in the zone while I gave my blog another look. As I got lost in thought, I heard Chris Stapleton’s voice singing “They say love is more precious than gold.” It hit me right then and there—a warm, fuzzy feeling realizing my blog is also about love, gold and the captivating allure of each!

Is this synchronicity? Absolutely!

Before I share my blog, I want to dedicate it to the memory of Rick Stack, who passed away suddenly in January 2024. He inspired me to believe in myself and pursue my dreams of becoming a writer, photographer, digital artist, gardener, butterfly activist and now, a blogger. Without his suggestions, this blog wouldn’t exist. I’ll always be thankful for experiencing his love for all of humanity.

🦋 Rick Stack…you are Charmed🦋

Here we go…

A little caterpillar dreamed of becoming a butterfly one day. It grew and grew until it was time to find the right place to transform into a chrysalis to hibernate over winter.

In our Charming Backyard Butterfly Garden, my husband and I stumbled upon two delicate chrysalises suspended from the rustic chicken wire. Reflecting on my past year’s journey nurturing 22 butterflies, I found solace and wonder in the inherent goodness and beauty of nature, meticulously photo journaling their metamorphosis through the lens of my camera. Intrigued by the mystical ties between alchemy and the chrysalis, my curiosity was ignited, prompting a deep dive into the realms of research. Here’s what Google unveiled.

What is Alchemy?

Oxford Languages: the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir.

What is a chrysalis?

It’s when a caterpillar sheds its last layer of skin transforming into a pupa that pupates into a protective hardened enclosed state of being shimmering like “gold” while metamorphosing into a butterfly.

I’m completely captivated with this new discovery! Alchemy is converting natural elements into gold or finding a universal elixir? And, Chrysalis is derived from Latin and Greek roots meaning “gold”. Do you see there’s an association here, too?

I wonder if a chrysalis is the epitome of alchemy? Honestly and truthfully, they do transform into an object that shimmers like gold then transforms into a butterfly that pollinates fruit and vegetables for every species on the planet. This could be considered a universal elixir, right? Is it possible? What would our planet be without fruits and vegetables? Would we survive?

Each moment I spend photo journaling these magnificent creatures, an inner desire is growing to discover more reasons why they’re named “Gold”!

They say “Love is more precious than gold”. It can’t be bought and it can’t be sold. I got love enough to spare that makes me a millionaire!

Chris Stapleton 2017, Kevin Welch 2002

January 24, 2024:

A huge storm came through last night. I was eager to get outside to take a photo of the chrysalis to see how it managed. I panicked when I noticed a big white spot on it. I used our new bougee camera to get an even closer view. I felt a big sigh of relief, and a little silly, seeing a raindrop – shining like a “gold” charm. I felt a warm fuzzy feeling inside of me and a big smile on my face. “It’s really Charming” I thought to myself. This inspired me to name it the “Charming Chrysalis” for wearing a charm!

Flashback to August 6, 2023:

This is that same chicken wire 5 months earlier. I photo journaled the journey of this beauty from when it was a caterpillar, then a pupa, becoming a chrysalis and emerging as a beautiful butterfly, capturing all phases using the chicken wire for support. I wasn’t sure if the wire would get too hot in the 100 degree weather. I feel the butterfly communicated to me, letting me know the wire was useful in all phases of transformation even in the heat and freezing cold. Did you notice the little Green Anole Lizard viewing the butterfly as it prepares to take first flight?

Would you like to meet the caterpillar who created the Charming Chrysalis?

The story of Our Charming Chrysalis

October 20, 2023: Day 1 as an egg

Here’s the moment when we saw a butterfly fluttering around happily laying eggs. It’s highly likely this video captured the stork-like moment when the caterpillar egg was laid in our garden.

I couldn’t help but notice the butterfly’s happy flutter dance around our Monarch Waystation Sign. I wondered if she was communicating something to me, pointing at objects on the sign. Did she want her own sign too because she’s a Gulf Fritillary, not a Monarch? Or, maybe, she wants more coneflowers? I’m encouraged to do both just to see what happens.

October 26, 2023: 6 days old as a caterpillar

Today we noticed a new caterpillar. We’re not certain which day it eclosed (i.e., when the larvae emerges out of its egg). I giggle everytime I see the caterpillars in this stage because it looks like they’re wearing an artist beret. I also pretend they’re speaking French to me. I know it’s silly, but I feel playful when I’m near them. Also, the holes on the leaves indicate it’s most likely in its 1st instar of caterpillar life. Instars are similar to stages, this caterpillar will go through 5 instars until it transforms into a pupa/chrysalis.

November 1, 2023: 12 days old as a caterpillar

This is our first picture taken with our new bougee camera. I’ve never seen so much colorful clarity in these super tiny caterpillars. I’m truly captivated by their creative beauty at this size (3mm-8mm)! It’s most likely in 1st/2nd instar at this stage.

November 6, 2023: 17 days old as a caterpillar

It’s bigger! It’s most likely in its 3rd or 4th instar stage (14mm-25mm). The blue and orange together are very complementary and pleasing to my eyes. The skin looks really soft and shiny. The head is formed now, showing the difference between the black branched spines and antennae. If I look close enough I can see its feet. I can also distinguish between its head and its rear end where it poops “frass”.

November 15, 2023: 26 days old as a caterpillar

The color pattern during this instar is super creative! We can see its cute little legs with the suction cup feet. Pretty smart, huh? There’s also black and white polka dots appearing above them. It makes me wonder if their legs turn into wings when they become a butterfly? They have 12 eyes, 6 on each side. It’s fun to discover all these new attributes thru each instar. It’s most likely in its 4th/5th instar stage.

December 4, 2023: Day 4 as a Chrysalis

The caterpillar spent approximately 45 days munching on the Passion Vine, undergoing five instars, preparing for its upcoming transformation – just in time to hibernate through the winter season.

When we returned from celebrating Thanksgiving in Mexico, we found two (2!) Chrysalises hanging from the chicken wire attached to the fence supporting the Passion Vine. My guess is they both pupated on or around December 1, 2023.

What in the world is that still attached to the chrysalis? It’s old skin left over from its last 5th Instar. This is a new discovery I didn’t see during the hot summer months. What a great representation of holding on to its past instar as it transforms into a new form called a chrysalis.

December 17: 17 days old as a chrysalis

It’s been 13 days since the last photo journal. Not much has changed, as you can see it’s still holding on to its old form. “I can relate to not wanting to let go of the past”, I thought. Here in Texas, the weather changes daily with temperature lows around 30 and highs around 80. Both the Passion Vine and chrysalis look healthy and thriving.

(Credit: Photography by Lisa, Austin, TX)

January 10, 2024: 41 days as a chrysalis

The chrysalis let go of the old skin. It looks robust and healthy. We winterized our garden early in January with worm castings, topsoil, and a touch of natural mulch. The chrysalis endured freezing temperatures as low as 15 degrees, faced everything from leaf blowers to some crazy wind storms. How truly remarkable it remains resilient and thrives through it all!

January 19, 2024: 50 days as a chrysalis

Today marks 50 days in chrysalis form. The summer chrysalis was in its chrysalis 8 days. It still looks strong and healthy! I noticed something new that looks like some sort of support webbing. I’d love to discover more about where it came from. Did the chrysalis create the webbing? Is it a sign it’s ready to eclose? So many things to uncover still…

I’ve always wondered how they survive the extreme weather the seasons bring year round. I was surprised to learn caterpillars and chrysalises are both masters of Poikilothermic regulation (Yes, that’s actually what it’s called – I looked it up!), which is the ability to survive outside in the extreme heat and in the freezing cold. They have the ability to handle it all. It feels amazing to experience this first hand – to watch them thrive through the Texas drought, heat, and freeze – without missing a beat in their metamorphosis journey!

Our new discovery about how they survive is “shut the front door” kind of news! Are you inspired by these beautiful creatures and their transformational changes across every temperature range they encounter, too?

Follow along as I continue to explore the beauty in nature capturing photos of new discoveries we find along our Charming Chrysalis’s journey into becoming a butterfly.

Love like a butterfly! -Happy Valentine’s Day! We are all millionaires in abundant love…believe it!

Leave a comment telling us which day you think the butterfly will eclose in our charming backyard butterfly garden.