People who know me well understand that I’m very passionate about monarch butterflies. I can remember back as a child awaiting the arrival of monarchs. Their rich orange color so perfectly accentuated by the black and crisp white spots. The caterpillars are as unmistakable as moral mushrooms and even novice people learn to recognize them.  To me the monarch butterfly is as iconic to the United States as hamburger and fries. When I became aware that the population was in trouble nearly 5 years ago I have been on a mission ever since. Each year just like I did as a child I await their arrival. I then collect the larva and rear them until they pupate into their jade green jewel like Chrysalis. I keep them safe and sheltered until they hatch. Releasing the adult butters still exhilarates me and I hope others can share in my passion for these butterflies to.