Category: Wildlife

Haiku: Secret Rebirth

~ Carrie ~ 2 Comments

My caterpillar friend has completed its metamorphosis and emerged in what I know must be an amazing new form. Unfortunately, I didn’t see when it actually departed the confines of its chrysalis. I suppose that, generally speaking, the likelihood of witnessing that event is low…but I had still hoped.

Instead of marinating in my disappointment, I choose to be glad that the winged creature was able to successfully make that incredible change and leave, to begin life anew. I’ve seen some lovely butterflies that could be that elusive changeling. What do you think?

I think this one is a Great Spangled Fritillary – it sat patiently as I snapped the photo

It may be called a “Common Buckeye”, but it looks pretty special to me!

Haiku: Solo Flyby

~ Carrie

Leaves crunching underfoot, the filtered quality of light, the goldenrod blooming…all herald Autumn’s arrival. The Canada geese, in particular, have historically been a seasonal bellwether for me, with their cries and formations a clear sign of the end of summer. As a big fan of fall, I welcome it, in all its pumpkin-spiced glory!

Haiku: Understated Elegance

~ Carrie

This morning, I was greeted by the lacy work of an industrious (and tiny) orbweaver spider on a hoop tractor; for scale, the opening in the wire where the web was draped is 2″ by 4″. I marveled at the meticulousness and determination of the spider, an everyday artist. May you behold Nature’s wonder today, too.

Poem: Butterfly Found…And Lost

~ Carrie

I saw a butterfly flutter by

A flash of color that caught my eye

Then, one morning, I also found

A butterfly upon the ground.

Its velvet wings heavy with dew,

I knew its journey was nearly through

But I was determined to at least try

To find a place where its wings could dry.

I placed it gently upon some wood

And like to think it understood

This was a place it could rest

And then, if it wished, continue its quest.

So I left it and continued on

With the chores to be done at dawn

And, later, when doing a round,

Found the butterfly, once again, upon the ground.

This time, though, I could tell

It would never move from where it fell –

Its wings, once outstretched and proud,

Were folded into a funeral shroud.

“Live fast, die young…”?

Will you return when Spring has sprung?

May there be plentiful Queen Anne’s Lace

Wherever you are, some other place.

I’ll look for you when flowers bloom,

Following the scent of heady perfume,

Beautiful Black Swallowtail, free of care,

Your spirit, unbound…and everywhere.

Learn more about the Eastern Black Swallowtail here.

Haiku: Quintet In Blue

~ Carrie

Sometimes small objects fail to catch our attention, and that’s a shame because there’s such beauty in the tiny world. In the waterfowl enclosure, on the hard-packed mud that I’ve been spraying to try to resurrect the grass (and it’s trying mightily to rebound), a group of miniscule and delicate butterflies flitted around each other, as if dancing.

These pale lavender dancers are Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies – specifically, females. Males of the species are a striking cobalt blue; while the females may be more subtly colored, their pastel daintiness is nonetheless a pleasure to behold.

As summer transitions to fall, the butterflies will soon be gone…so enjoy them while you can!