The release gave children, including the young girl below, a chance to see the butterflies up close. (Photos by Peter Lindner. Click to enlarge)
Sickles Market in Little Silver held its annual peach festival and butterfly release Saturday, giving about 100 Monarch and Painted Lady butterflies their freedom.
The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County provided 20 Monarchs as a symbol of hope, transformation and liberation for their metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to pupa and, finally, adult.
The Monarchs now head south to Mexico. Learn more about their migration here.