When spring grows warmer, we may well see butterflies in our parks and gardens. They are one of life’s treats for us, but some of them don’t live very long, so be thankful when you see one! Here is a little story written from a Cabbage White’s point of view. Don’t forget to let the flowers grow!
The sun felt warm when I ate my way out of the dark green leaf where I’d lain for four days, before my legs began to work and my green body stretched itself out. The sun didn’t dazzle me because the thick cabbage leaves made good shelter for tiny creatures and I stayed amongst them for four weeks, eating away because I was a very hungry caterpillar. Thankfully, I hatched out of my egg in Mr Brown’s garden. It was full of every type of plant, flowers and vegetables and he didn’t cover up all his cabbages, beans and broccoli, so he grew lots for his family and friends and some for my family and friends as well. He even let a patch of nettles grow, so while I feasted on cabbage leaves my black cousins with white spots and yellow stripes gorged on nettles. They were called Red Admirals, and they lived much longer than me. I wondered if it was something in the nettles, but they just didn’t suit me.
After about four weeks, even I was full to bursting and I found a safe, sheltered spot near the heart of a cabbage. I curled up and felt the soft silky chrysalis wrap itself tightly around me. I had nothing to do then but wait and feel the changes in my body.
After nearly two weeks, my silk wrappings opened up and fell away. Everything felt different and I stretched out my legs, which was strange because I’d lost most of them. I’d only got six left.
My long body had only got three parts and there were long antennae coming out of my head, which I wiggled with excitement.
The most astonishing things were four white wings attached to my middle. I laid on my leaf and gradually spread them out. I rested and soaked up the sun for about two hours, then I began to move my wings. They fluttered, then flapped up and down and wonder of wonders, I left my leaf behind. My feet weren’t touching anything, and I soared in the air, away from the cabbages and cauliflowers. It was time for different food.
Mr Brown’s garden was amazing, with roses, daisies, hydrangea and buddleia. Grasses grew long and flowery and I alighted on them and enjoyed my first long drink of dew. I flew above a bright buddleia and saw that my Red Admiral cousins had grown wings as well. Theirs were gorgeous, black with orange and white markings. Mine were plain white.
I fluttered about the purple spikes, but they didn’t appeal to me. I took quick sips of nectar when I flew past yellow loosestrife and nasturtiums, but when I got to the patch of cornflowers I landed and feasted on nectar to my heart’s content. Beside me was the lavender which was alive with the humming of bees. When they’d finished, they moved onto the petunias and disappeared deep inside the bright pink flowers. For a moment, I wished I could do that, but I knew I didn’t need to. I had a clever proboscis which uncurled, tested the nectar and sucked it out of any flower. There was enough for everyone in that garden, and we all knew how to find and eat what we needed.
My days in Mr Brown’s garden were happy, but they didn’t last long. One day, another white winged butterfly fluttered close to me, our antennae touched, and we clung together. With our wings fluttering in harmony, we soared above the garden in the blue sky and warm sun, serenaded by bees and blackbirds. Finally, we parted and I found my own way back to my beloved cabbage plants. I lay on a leaf, protected from the sun, the summer rain and the thrush that sang so beautifully. When I rose again, I left behind me sixty pale golden specks of eggs.
I was tired then and flew to a patch of borage, where I mingled with the bees to enjoy my last meal. I was ten days old.
Wander well through April,
Mandy
Things I love:
- Butterflies
- A garden
- The sound of bees.
Wandering Through The Land Of Nod. 