Making Memories with Butterflies

28/08/2024

This pipevine swallowtail will be going into a chrysalis within the next 24 hours. I still have 3 chrysalises that still haven't eclosed too. I'm kinda thinking these guys, plus the 2 other cats will emerge next spring.

And I have lots of Monarch caterpillars. Too many to count. This is the first year I have lots of blondies, very light caterpillars. They seem slow growing, but one tuened into a chrysalis, so I'm waiting to see if it happens to come out albino.

12/08/2024

With Color Me Mine – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

12/08/2024

With Cedar Lake Farmers Market – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

12/08/2024

With Butter Duck Farms – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

05/08/2024

With The Natural Naturalist – I just got recognized as one of their rising fans! 🎉 please feel free to follow her. Kim is such a wealth of information.

31/07/2024

A total of 117 Monarch butterflies were released in Bolingbrook over the past two days, with an additional pipevine swallowtail also released this morning.

30/07/2024

27/07/2024

Don't miss out on the opportunity to create unforgettable memories with Making Memories with Butterflies. Join us tomorrow at 12:00 pm on 7/27 at the market for a butterfly release. Purchase a kit and receive a complimentary coupon for one butterfly release or buy a raffle ticket for $1.00. Limited to 75 butterflies. Visit he4 tent before 11:50 am to secure your raffle ticket.

23/07/2024

If you are near by and would like to attend this event, please sign up!

06/06/2024

So many of us are nostalgic about fireflies, but hardly see them anymore! Let's help them make their way back into our landscape. We can support fireflies by making a few changes in our landscape practices!

🧪 Don’t use chemicals targeting insects: Fireflies are insects that use the ground, soil and leaf litter during various stages of their life cycle. Firefly larvae live one to two years and eat critters like snails, slugs and caterpillars (free pest control!).

🌾 Mow higher and/or less frequently: Fireflies are attracted to high grasses and rest on tall blades of grass or shrubbery. Lawns mowed at 3.5 or 4 inches are better for fireflies yet also may produce a healthier lawn. Some experts recommend cutting no more than one-third of the grass blades at a time to avoid scalping and stunting its growth.

🌱 Plant native grasses and shrubs: Great native grass choices include Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), one of the earliest-blooming sedges in the spring; and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), often grown as an ornamental, in part due to the attractive bronze color of its leaves in autumn.

💡 Reduce lights: Outdoor lights prevent fireflies from seeing each other’s flashes, making it difficult for them to communicate, defend their territory and find mates.

https://unh.me/3WESA7g

06/06/2024

I have butterfly kits available for $20 each, plus $5.00 for an extra chrysalis.

I will also have some butterflies available for releases this weekend if interested.

Please contact me if you are interested

I do not ship, so these are only for those who are local (near 355 and I55).

I still have plants available as well. Once I'm out, I'm out.

$3.00 each
6 for $15
10 for $25

01/06/2024

Butterfly kits are available for $20 each (with one chrysalis) or $25 for a kit with two chrysalises. If you have a previous kit from me and want to purchase another chrysalis, it's still $5 each.

Just let me know via text what color you'd like and when you can stop by.

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Whether you already have a serious science lover in the family, or are trying to spark a new interest learning, raising butterflies at home is an ideal way to teach kids about life cycles.

This hands-on method will captivate them as their chrysalis emerges into a beautiful Monarch butterfly.

These butterfly kits will make traditional, boring at-home learning, exciting and educational. From sets that include live J-ing caterpillars, to plant-inclusive options and add-on options, you can count on these kits to provide your kids with a wonderful experience and lasting memories that they won't be able to stop talking about.

Worried about messing the process up? All my kits come with detailed instructions to ensure everything goes smoothly. The hardest part will be coming up with a name for the butterfly and letting your butterfly spread it's wings and go.

Finally achieve your garden goal with organic native flowers.

A beautiful garden can seem like a lot of work, but the beauty and benefits are something that every person should be able to enjoy.

Need help designing or planting your native garden? Contact Airy Prairie and see how they can help your garden grow!

03/09/2023

Come and bring the family out to the Cedar Lake Farmer's Market (7408 Constitution Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 46303) today. There will be over 80 vendors at today's market with a lot of kid activities and food booths.

I will be in spot #40 from 2p - 8p selling butterfly kits with 1 chrysalis for $15 each (while supplies last) and educating those who want to learn how to help save the Monarchs.

There will be a butterfly release with over 50 Monarchs at 5pm in front of the stage.

Here's a peak at all the vendors and where they will be located:

118. 4 Paws Sewing
111. Adorable Kreations
77. Amandalynn Bowtique
End cap: Angela's Craft Corner
38. Gary price Artist
56. Astromx sabers
58. Bathsheba Body Works
60. Beaded by Michelle
127. Bevi COFFEE TRUCK
59. BluEnvy
52. Bone Appetit
63. BunchesLife
81. C&O Glow
123. Caralyn's Hair Braiding & Boutique
8/9. Chel Foods FOOD TRUCK
120. Christian Culture Company
108. Color Street- Little Gail nails
Grassy area.
Coopers Party Rentals BOUNCE HOUSE/
97. Cutting edge knives
112. Cooper and Cay Boutique
125. Corn Kid
114. Crafty Patti’s
107. Craft Creations
106. Creations by Allison
61. Crochet by Rose
54. CtCraftCo
57. Cuteness overload slime
108. Dirtbikes and Daisies Bow-tique
15. Geeky Goodies Gourmet Marshmallows
55. Get Bent Jewelry
16. Gigi's Blingy Thingys
08. Glow Up
101. Good Morning Bakery
51. Happy Travel A
78. Hannah’s Mary Kay
36. Holiday Outdoor Decor
76. Jazlyn's Home Essentials
48. KCP Designz
Grassy area:
Keep The Faith Ranch PONY RIDES
62. Kimis Glasses
35. Knot Just Wreaths
110. Lake Brothers
45. Lather Me Up Soaps++Paul’s pumpkins 47
117. Magical Mystery Attic

40. Making Memories with Butterflies
***BUTTERFLY RELEASE AT 5p***

115. Mes Deux Filles
104. Melody glassworks
3/4. Mis Tacos
18. Modern Antique Radios
139. Modern Midwest Cuisine
103. Natural Vibes
122. Old Bird Farm & Apothecary
43. Paige’s Sweet Treats
34. PawTree pet nutrition
13. Polly Ann Cakes
126. Refuge Coffee
19. Rocks On the Porch/ The Board Kids
119. Rock a toy
80. RONDI’S Curiosities
121. Sandy Oak Ranch PETTING ZOO
17. SewVida
41. Shabby Attic signature candles
79. Stone N Pallet
42. Teddy Bear Blankets by Grandma Pam
128. The burger stand
5-7. The Cheesy Food Truck
39. The Rootery
44. The Five Acre Farm
124. The Sugar Shack
53. TheCraftyCows LLC
74. Tiny Giraffes
135. TJ's Kettle Corn & Roasted Nuts
116. Trois Chiens et Moi
1/2. Twisted Sugar
99. Verbish Family Games KIDS GAMES
??. Vito’s Italian Ice
64. Wild Rose Designs

Hope to see you today and thank you for supporting our small businesses.

~Cindy

27/08/2023

I will be at the Plainfield Farmers Market today selling a limited number of monarch butterfly kits (with 1-2 chrysalises in each kit).

I will be also be doing a butterfly release at 1:30pm.

Date: 08/27/2023 11AM - 3PM

Location: Plainfield Public Library Parking Lot
15025 S. Illinois Street
Plainfield , Illinois 60544

The market features locally grown produce and is held in the Library Parking Lot on Sundays through September 10, which I also plan on attending.

Hope to see you there!

~Cindy

P.S. Monarch season ends mid-Oct, so if you would like additional kits, add-on chrysalises or a butterfly release, you can always make an appointment to pick them up from me in Bolingbrook.

17/08/2023

I'll be in the bright orange tent selling butterfly kits at the Bolingbrook Jubilee on Saturday, Aug 19th and Sunday, Aug 20th.

On Saturday, we are releasing butterflies at 3:30p and on Sunday, the release will be at 3:45p.

If you haven't been to the Jubilee, this wil be the perfect time to check it out (look at the line-up)!

~Cindy

15/08/2023

I released another 50 butterflies today and spotted 2 Monarchs drinking necter from my 8 foot tall cut leaf coneflower.

I have 8 events in the next 7 weeks.

If I don't run out of chrysalises, I will be selling them at the following events:

Aug 19th and 20th (12 - 6p both days) Bolingbrook Jubilee

Aug 23rd (3p - 8p) Cedar Lake Farmer's Market

Aug 27th (11a - 3p) Plainfield Farmer's Market

Sept 3rd (2p-8p) Cedar Lake Labor Day Fest

Sept 10th (11a - 3p)
Plainfield Farmer's Market

Sept 13th (3p - 8p)
Cedar Lake Farmer's Market

Sept 23rd (9a - 5p)
Sunset Hill Farm Fall Fest

Sept 27th (3 - 8p)
Cedar Lake Farmers Market

ADDRESSES:
Bolingbrook Jubilee
375 W. Briarcliff Rd
Bolingbrook, Illinois

Cedar Lake Farmers Market
7408 Constitution Av
Cedar Lake, IN

Plainfield Farmers Market
15025 S. Illinois Street
Plainfield , IL

Sunset Hill Farm
775 N. Meridian
Valparaiso, IN

Look at these beautiful milkweed plants I picked today in Romeoville. These plants should feed my hungry cats for the next 2 days.

09/08/2023

I will be at the Cedar Lake Farmers Market today from 3p-7:30p, so if you are looking to buy a kit, or pick up extra chrysalises for a kit you already purchased from me, I will be at the orange tent near the front entrance.

I will also be releasing over 100 Monarchs at 5p in front of the stage.

Hope to see you there!

06/08/2023

I will be at the Plainfield Farmers Market today (August 6th) from 11-3p selling butterfly kits.

I will also be doing a butterfly release at noon. So, feel free to stop by.