By mid-morning, a new female butterfly was suspended on an empty chrysalis, her wings not fully extended.
She climbed on uncertain legs to a nearby stem, where she hung to dry.
A couple of hours later, she was ready. She climbed to the top of a leaf, pumped her wings, and flew off, high above the trees.
That day, there was a bonus.
All week, I had searched the geranium in vain for other chrysalises, but there, hanging out to dry, was another new butterfly.
She perched on a blossom brighter than a stoplight in the city.
The sisters are headed for Mexico, and we hope they'll be back next spring.
We'll keep the light on for them.
Linking with Saturday's Critters