The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) emerges from its chrysalis and another feeds on a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundiflora)

As a follow-up to my prior post about the monarch caterpillars we have been enjoying and the chrysalis we found of our deck, my five year old son actually found the new butterfly after it emerged from its chrysalis. We didn't see it actually come out, but we knew this was the one because it was was walking on the deck a few inches away from the old chrysalis with its moist, unfurled wings. It didn't fly away for a few hours.

Here's a picture of another beautiful monarch I caught feeding on our Mexican sunflower in the Children's Garden. Unlike some other butterflies, I find that these monarchs don't let you get too close.