Sudbury Butterfly Experience

06/15/2024

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has just time enough 💕

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06/13/2024

That's a wrap on the spring butterfly kit season! All of our babies have moved out, and we get to reclaim our kitchen and dining room tables! 😆

We were not planning on any more sets this year, however we've received enough messages in the last week that it appears there are still a fair number of people who may be wanting kits.

Who would be interested in a mid-July kit- available approximately July 19?

If we do a small round in July, we would likely run it on a pre-order basis to reduce the amount of chasing we need to do once kits are ready.

If you would be interested in securing a kit via pre-order for July 19th-ish, please comment below. Just gauging interest at this point!

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06/09/2024

Currently SOLD OUT with remaining kits pending pickup.

Any unpaid kits not picked up will be available again late tomorrow.

I do have a small reserve of younger larvae currently growing and may have a couple extra kits in a few days 🦋

06/08/2024

We have kits!

We made up a limited number of kits this morning, for anyone still waiting.

Pickup in Chelmsford, or we will be in New Sudbury this afternoon, or the Valley tomorrow afternoon.

This may be the last set of the year so if you're hoping for a kit, send us a message! 🦋

06/02/2024

Finally, after what seems like an extra long wait this year, we have our first beautiful butterfly!

Check out the comments below for an image illustrating the major parts of the butterfly's anatomy, as well as an anatomy quiz for the kiddos!

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08/22/2023

We have placed a small egg order for delivery next week! I'll reach out to everyone who has expressed an interest in preordering a kit thus far

If anyone else wants in on the absolute last kits of 2023, send us a message! 🦋

08/16/2023

Last call for 2023!

We've been busy summer-ing the last few weeks, but we need to get our act together if we want to order one last set of eggs for early September.

So- last call as I still need a few more people to make it worth it, cost wise...who wants a kit for early September? Kits would be ready approx Sept 10th through the 20th or so. If you have lots of flowers in your garden and nearby for them to feed on upon release, or if you want to keep them inside for their whole adult phase, these guys are for you!

Kits are still $20 each, and cages are also still available for $12.

Who else wants a kit? 🦋

07/28/2023

Just when we had packed everything away and were 'retired' for the year-

Our beautiful daughter, the apple of my eye, and queen of everything around here is turning 8 years old in early October- and is having a birthday party at the end of September. 🎉

She has chosen her birthday "themes" for several years now, and this year, she has chosen a butterfly theme! All is great and well, except that, along with this request, she has also requested we have butterflies for her party 🤦‍♀️

With that being said, and having the supplies and means to make that request happen (as apparently she is well aware- lol), I'm not keen on placing an egg order for just her party. So. Would anyone be interested in a late summer September kit? They would be ready approx Sept 9/10 through mid September. I'd prefer to offer them as presales so that I don't have to chase people quite as much when they're ready to go.

Let us know if you're interested! 🦋

Send a message to learn more

07/26/2023

We found a new friend while out in the garden tonight! According to my daughter, his name is Carl... Carl is a very well fed Luna Moth larva! As cool as Carl is, I'm pretty thankful we don't have hundreds of these guys living in our house each spring!

A cool fact about Luna moths- the adults, like other members of the giant silkworm family, have reduced mouthparts, so they don’t eat at all. Thus, the adults only live for about a week!

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07/20/2023

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07/12/2023

700 followers! 🤯

As of this morning, we've hit 700 followers! I couldn't believe, back in 2021 when we casually put a handful of spare larvae into kits, that people would actually love what we do as much as we do. We had about 100 followers that year and that alone blew my mind, and now here we are, at 700!

Thanks again to each and every one of you who have supported us and our little page. You are all awesome! We hope you're enjoying your summer as much as we are! 💕🦋

07/01/2023

That's a wrap!

The last of our orders for 2023 has left the building, and for the first time in almost 3 months there are no caterpillars in our house! We thank each and every one of you who came out to meet us, who purchased a kit, and who shared your experience with us!

Many of you have already messaged us but we would LOVE to see pictures of your kiddos, classes and families with their butterflies! Please share some pics below, we really do love seeing them! 🦋

06/27/2023

**CLAIMED**

We have had a lovely lady who found herself unable to pick up her kit donate it to someone who will enjoy it.

We would like to find a childcare centre, educational facility or community group who would enjoy this kit throughout the next month.

If you/your organization are one of the above and you have a group of children who would enjoy this experience, please send us a message to claim it. MUST be able to pick up either in Chelmsford within the next couple of days, or in New Sudbury today before 3pm.

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06/26/2023

We currently have 5 unclaimed kits from our latest set of eggs, then we are done for 2023!

If anyone wants to claim them, send us a message. Pickup in Chelmsford, or in New Sudbury tomorrow from 9-3. 🦋

**ALL SOLD PENDING PICKUP**

06/22/2023

This guy gives 6 thumbs up to some fresh Viburnum nectar! 💕

The current larvae are nearly ready to be placed into kits for those who preordered. After that we should have a handful of kits later next week, then we're done for 2023!

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06/19/2023

The last babies of the year are growing well after their weekend camping trip! A few more days and they'll be ready to be placed into kits 🐛💕

06/16/2023

Hello, friend 💕

Have a great weekend all! We'll be away and with spotty cell service through the weekend, so see you all next week! 🦋

06/15/2023

The final eggs of 2023 have arrived! Kits will be available starting approximately June 23 🐛

06/13/2023

The fallen chrysalis

We receive a few questions each year about how to handle a fallen chrysalis. Fallen chrysalids do happen, either from caterpillars dislodging them, from weak silk pads, or just from being bumped. But if your chrysalis falls, all is not lost.

Give the fallen chrysalis 24 hours to harden, then scoop it up gently with a spoon. If there is any silk, frass (p**p), or debris stuck to it gently brush it off with a clean Qtip.

Next, you need to tie something around the very top of the chrysalis to re-hang it.

Waxed dental floss is a wonderful material to hang a chrysalis, because it is thick and sort of sticky- knots made with waxed floss will not slip! Thread can be used as well, but may not be quite as sturdy or easy to work with.

Cut a piece of floss or thread about 4 to 6 inches long, and tie a loose knot in the center of the floss to create a small loop. Do not pull it tight yet. Slip the little loop over the black tip of the chrysalis – called the cremaster. Pull your knot tight around the cremaster- I usually make a double knot.

Finally, very carefully transfer the chrysalis to your butterfly cage, and securely tape or pin it to the roof of the cage.

Check out the images below (albeit for a monarch pupa) for a visual 🦋

06/09/2023

More mini kits being put together for an upcoming little girl's birthday party favours! 🎉

Each mini kit will contain a single larvae... a cute and inexpensive option for unique party favours or gifts for larger groups of kiddos (end of year class or daycare kiddo send offs maybe?). Have an event coming up near the end of June and think these would work for you, send us a message! 🦋

06/07/2023

The next set of eggs is scheduled to arrive June 15th! 🐛

Send us a message if you want to secure a kit for the next and final round of kits for 2023 🦋

06/05/2023

We have butterfly seeds! 🥚

Our adult butterflies seemed to have become well acquainted prior to their release this past weekend, and they graced us with eggs! Check out how tiny they are!

We're not entirely sure whether they will hatch, we're watching them diligently for signs of life with fingers crossed! 🤞🤞🤞

In the meantime, we have also placed our final egg order for the year, which barring unforseen circumstances, will be ready to be placed into kits starting approximately June 23rd. If you would like to secure a late June kit via preorder, please send us a message. $20/kit, includes a minimum of 5 larvae, food, brush and full instructions. 🦋

06/02/2023

Yet another reason why we love what we do, is all the fantastic people we get to meet each year! 💕

Like Katie Fenerty, a talented local artist who stopped by to pick up a butterfly kit and gifted us with these gorgeous hand carved and hand painted butterfly wing earrings! She also creates local greeting cards, custom prints, wearable art, hosts local paint alongs and more!

Check our her Page or her website and pick up something special for yourself or your loved ones! https://katiefenerty.ca/ 🦋
https://www.facebook.com/katiefenerty.art?mibextid=ZbWKwL

05/31/2023

The May butterfly kits have officially wrapped up over here, so now we are debating one final round for June, as we still have supplies we'd rather not store over winter.

If we were to do a round of June kits, would there be any interest? Kits would be available approx the June 23/24 weekend. There is a local summer fair we are thinking of attending with a table, but wondering if there is anyone left in here who would also want a kit? 🤔 I could open preorders for anyone interested in securing in advance

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05/30/2023

A lot of folks currently have chrysalids nearing the end of their transformation, and several people have had butterflies emerge over the last day or so.

You can tell that your butterflies are almost ready to eclose when their chrysalids appear to turn dark. But upon closer inspection, you will actually discover that the chrysalids have turned transparent, revealing the beautiful butterfly about to enter the world! Can you see the wing through this chrysalis?

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05/28/2023

Something different compiled for one of our local Girl Guides Embers groups! Individual caterpillar kits, allowing each girl to bring a single baby home with them and watch the life cycle every day! So happy with how they turned out 💕

We still have larvae in the nursery and will be making up more kits throughout the week to wrap up this set of eggs. This is the last set of kits that will work for teachers so that the life cycle is completed before the end of the school year- so if you're looking for a kit for your classroom, make sure to grab one of these. Kits can be picked up in Chelmsford through the week, message us to set up a pickup!

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05/28/2023

There are still about 6 more kits left in Chelmsford awaiting new homes, message to confirm pickup if you want one 🦋

05/27/2023

Kits are still available, and ready for Chelmsford pickup.

We have our table set up and ready if anyone wants to come pick up a kit in Chelmsford this evening/weekend, message me for the address. We still have cages, books and models as well. Note that we are at the far end of Chelmsford, closer to Dowling

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05/27/2023

All set up, and plenty of kits left as of 12:30! 🦋

05/26/2023

Sale day feeler post!

So we have worked through making up all the kits to fulfill the May preorders, and it seems that we still have babies left.

The most expedient way to get these babies into homes is through a sale day... which would also make my daughter super happy since she was devastated that we had to cancel the last one.

IF we were to throw together a bit of a last minute mini sale for TOMORROW afternoon, say 12-1 or 1:30 in the south end (Algonquin area) is there any interest? If there is enough interest we will make more kits tonight and get everything put together. We will have a limited supply of kits, books, models and cages, and if we sell out we will post on the page. Note for teachers- I cannot guarantee these will emerge before school is out... they definitely SHOULD, but I can't guarantee it.

We do also have a fair bit of under size/late hatchers in the nursery- still too small for kits quite yet, so we should have a handful of kits afterwards as well for Chelmsford pickup later next week.

So... show of hands for a sale tomorrow??

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