This is "my" monarch butterfly. I raised him from an egg to adulthood, a process that took roughly one month. Like any anxious mum, I worried through every stage of the cycle, because I felt terribly responsible.

Well, the day came when this guy (and yes, it was a male) was ready to leave. After his wings had dried thoroughly, I took him into the garden and placed him on some flowers. Within a few seconds, he flew in a wobbly fashion, to a nearby tree and landed. Then he flew straight at me and clung to my hip for awhile, looking up at me as if to say "goodbye". It was quite a moment! Then he flew to this plant (where I got 2 photos) and in seconds was up and away over the rooftops and I was very sad.

The second monarch emerged early this morning, another male, and was released in early noon. He flew away fast as soon as I opened the cage and that was that!