Butterflies Soak Up the Nectar
I love butterflies. I had a butterfly net as a child and spent days idly chasing after Tiger swallowtails, Black swallowtails, Viceroys, Clouded sulphur, and so many other species.
I took their abundance for granted. I’d capture them and put them quietly to sleep until they died. Then I mounted them in displays and studied them.
When I became an adult and wondered why I get such a thing, especially knowing some species were struggling to survive. My lens on nature changed.
I saw each butterfly as a gift. A magnificent creature floating in the wind. A painter's palette in the sky. Landing on flowers in a garden, in a field, in the woods, or randomly flying across a tree-lined street during a walk.
I admonished myself for not understanding this as a child. I vowed to cherish them forever and fill my garden with an array of flowers, plants, and fruits to create a sanctuary.
My efforts have paid off, and the rewards of such beauty take my breath away just as they did as a child. Only now they are forever free to roam.
