Thursday, August 7, 2008

Butterfly Days

The pictured spicebush swallowtail is a female feasting on Ligularia dentata 'Desdemona' blossoms. The caterpillers look like cartoon characters. They stay rolled up in the leaves during the day and feed at night. As symbols of transformation, they remind me of our change to retired life. The butterfly's days are short but the most beautiful phase of its life. I'm thankful for the butterfly days.

Thankful Thursday's origin is
Rose Colored Glasses.
at

21 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 7, 2008 at 7:17 AM

    Nuts, does that mean I'm in the caterpillar stage? (I have been eating alot. . .)

    Bummer!

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  2. UnknownAugust 7, 2008 at 7:34 AM

    Beautiful picture and a lovely thought,Donna.

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  3. Jane O'August 7, 2008 at 7:44 AM

    I've never thought of retirement as the butterfly days, but it sure makes sense. I am looking forward to it; maybe this coming spring. I will think of your thankful thursday when that day comes.

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  4. ChrisAugust 7, 2008 at 8:12 AM

    Mother Nature,

    Lovely photo of a beautiful butterfly! Your words have painted a wonderful picture of your retirement & I'm longing to join you in that state!

    Butterfly days...I'll remember that!

    Thankfully, Chris

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  5. RhondiAugust 7, 2008 at 9:17 AM

    What a lovely thought! If you ever come to Wing Haven, make sure you let me know and I'll give you a personal tour!
    HUgs, Rhondi

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  6. AnonymousAugust 7, 2008 at 9:37 AM

    What a lovely thought! Your pictures are beautiful. This is my first visit to your site, but I will return to see the rest of your photos.

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  7. LonaAugust 7, 2008 at 10:06 AM

    What lovely thought and such a beautiful picture.
    Lona

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  8. tinaAugust 7, 2008 at 10:56 AM

    Beautiful picture and I like that flower!

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  9. AnonymousAugust 7, 2008 at 11:04 AM

    What a lovely sentiment to describe their wondrous cycle of life. Comparing it to ours is very thought provoking. Beautiful post Donna.

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  10. AnonymousAugust 7, 2008 at 12:29 PM

    It's wonderful when the visitors like butterflies bring more life to the garden. Then it's easy to forgive their leaf chomping stage.
    It's a nice photo of the swallowtail and Ligularia.

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  11. spookydragonflyAugust 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM

    I agree with all of the other comments...what a touching comparison...I, too, will have to remember that!! Beautiful post!

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  12. TracyAugust 8, 2008 at 7:11 AM

    Hello, Mother! Thanks for stopping by to visit me--so nice to meet your and find you hymn to Mother Nature here. That is a beautiful specimen of a butterfly...The butterflies seem to be making themselve so rare thesedays where I live. Their habitats being overtaken, I guess, sadly...Thank you for sharing yur butterfly days. Happy weekend :o)

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  13. marmeeAugust 8, 2008 at 1:31 PM

    enjoyed looking and listening to your blog. love the butterfly image and the thoughts.

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  14. Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the GardensAugust 8, 2008 at 4:29 PM

    Donna, a lovely post, beautiful picture.

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  15. Mother NatureAugust 8, 2008 at 5:12 PM

    Core, kanak, janemarie, chris, rhondi, nola, hocking, tina, perennial gardener, northern shade, spooky, tracy, marmee, titania,
    Thank you so much for your comments.

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  16. AnonymousAugust 8, 2008 at 9:23 PM

    I love that you are thankful for a simple butterfly. I think butterflies are amazing creatures. We took our grands swimming in a mountain stream this past week and there were lots of butterflies hovering in groups on the ground. Mostly a striking blue and 3 very large yellow ones. The children coaxed the butterflies on their hands. A beautiful sight and my camera was home.

    Hugs, Jeanne

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  17. Joyce's JourneyAugust 8, 2008 at 10:10 PM

    What beautiful photography!

    Thank you for your comments on my Thankful Thursday post. I see we have the same distinctive taste in naming our daughters. Rachel is a beautiful name and your daughter sounds very special. We are blessed.

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  18. MeMeMeAugust 9, 2008 at 5:04 AM

    ahahahah, corefoundations is so funny.

    Hello Donna, what a nice post. I have been blessed with butterflies this year, which only encourages me to continue growing flowers. I started mostly annuals this year and it has been a delight.

    jeanniethedreamer

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  19. AnonymousAugust 10, 2008 at 10:48 AM

    What a gorgeous photo. I love both, ligularias and swallowtails. I hope you have many butterfly days ahead too.

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  20. Iowa Victory GardenerAugust 12, 2008 at 1:07 AM

    Hi MN,
    We see some swallowtails around our garden too, and they are always welcomed to the garden, along with the Painted Ladies and Monarchs and others.

    I'm always glad to see others appreciate Ligularia dentata as much as we do, because it's a really remarkable and beautiful plant. Our original one has yet to bloom, but the new one we put in this spring bloomed prematurely and is now done. The 'Rocket' is still going though, but looking like it's winding down now.

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  21. GregAugust 12, 2008 at 6:53 PM

    Oh, wow...that's an incredible photo...your words about Butterfly Days are beautiful, too. I hope yours last a good long time, though.

    I guess I, too, am a hungry caterpillar still...

    What a lovely blog you have, MN!

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Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can be either flowers or weeds.