If you’ve walked through the doors of our Primary building this past week, you may have seen our butterfly enclosure full of fun creatures! Thanks to Eagle Scout Cole for his craftsmanship, students and staff at Blue Ridge have had the pleasure of observing the life cycle of these incredible monarch butterflies.
This enclosure was home to six monarchs, one spicebush swallowtail, and a zebra swallowtail, thanks to a second-grade playground discovery!
Mrs. Kaiser shares a special shoutout to Mrs. Lee’s and Mrs. Royster’s classes for raising these beautiful butterflies.
Did you know that the white spots on a Monarch's wings act like aerodynamic flight boosters? Monarchs experience a grueling 3,000-mile journey to Mexico. The black portions of their wings reflect the sun's light, while the white spots absorb it. This creates tiny pockets of spinning air currents (known as 'micro vortices') right above the wings' edges, which make the long-distance flight more efficient. These amazing little creatures certainly earn their overwintering break in Mexico!
"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." - John Muir