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As the weather’s grown cooler here, I wonder how long the butterflies and bees will be around. Few flowers still remain, mostly what people would consider to be “weeds”, like thistle and a low-growing bush with miniscule white flowers. Pesky to some, these are important food sources for pollinators.
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?
Not long ago, I saw an unassuming black and brown caterpillar making its way along a garage door. I knew that wasn’t a good place for it, so I moved it away, into a clump of clover. I didn’t expect to see it again, but it reappeared and hung around…literally.
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.
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!
I’ve been trying for some time now to photograph the Monarchs that flit about the pastures. They always seem to foil my hasty photographic attempts by flying off as soon as I almost have the shot lined up on my phone – and they won’t let me get very close, adding challenge to an already difficult endeavor. Today, though, this one let me get close enough for this photo. Maybe it was under the spell of the red clover nectar it was sampling…but regardless of the reason, I seized the opportunity, gladly. It’s butterfly season here: all sizes, shapes, and colors mingle in the pastures. And each one is welcome.