There are few activities as rewarding as raising butterflies. The transformation of a tiny caterpillar through 5 instars, followed by the pupa and finally the beautiful adult butterfly may even seem miraculous.

Now thanks to our 104 year young resident Rose Klei’s and her son Bob, Oakmont Livonia is doing just that. One day Bob brought in a few cocoons in a net container so residents could watch the butterflies hatch and then we released them outside. Residents, staff and visitors enjoyed watching the butterfly cage at the front desk so much that Bob continued to bring in more cocoons from his garden throughout the summer and into the fall. In Spring, Bob is going to help us develop a butterfly garden by planting bushes and flowers that attract the butterflies in our atrium outside the main hallway and dining room windows.