Lucy, Noir. Luna the butterfly

Our home has become a sanctuary for a Monarch butterfly with a torn and crumpled wing. This amazing little creature named Luna won't fulfill her destiny as a butterfly, but at least she was found by a kind soul - my daughter Neve - who is caring for her. She has brought a lot of joy and wonder to our household!

Neve found her as she was stepping onto the school bus. She carefully cupped her into her hands and held her all the way home. Once there, she researched torn/broken wings and found out that “butterfly surgery” is a thing! She did her best to patch the wing with glue and some paper to reinforce it, but eventually with some pretty assertive wing flapping and attempts at flying, the paper detached and then wing pieces started to come loose! We read that wings are actually quite robust, but I guess if there is a tear or break, that then the act of flying can break them further. Even with a partial wing she can fly a bit, but only downwards and can’t regain any air. We also noticed that the ‘healthier’ wing was quite scuffed - perhaps all that happened in her initial accident.

She won’t be able to take the amazing journey that Monarchs take, sometimes travelling thousands of miles, to find a warm place for winter. But she will have a warm home here with us.

Noirly yours,

Lucy