Butterflies

A few weeks ago when the boys and I were having our read aloud time, we were learning about the life cycle of the butterfly.  I had noticed there were lots of butterflies on the purple coneflower outside the front window a few days before so we took a minute to look and sure enough there were lots of butterflies.  Since we knew that winter was just around the corner we took advantage of the opportunity and took a few pictures (maybe more than a few) and drew and wrote about them in our nature journals.  These are painted lady butterflies.  

Several years ago the older children and I watched as some painted lady larvae became butterflies.  Through that experience I had learned that painted ladies lay their eggs on hollyhocks as their larvae eat the holly hock leaves.  Much to Curtis' dismay we still have a few hollyhocks around so we went to check it out.  Yep, there they were the larvae chewing away turning the leaves to lace.  What a fun experience.  I think Charlotte Mason would be pleased.