I've noticed over the years that there haven't been as many butterflies gracing my particular square footage in this world...or as many varieties as I remember from years ago. We used to see Monarchs, Viceroys, Mourning Cloaks (beautiful brown with dots of blue), Red Admirals, the common white Cabbage Butterfly, another one I thought was a yellow Cabbage Butterfly, Tiger Swallowtails (yellow and black) and others unknown. One that always sticks in my mind was a tiny little gorgeous glistening blue butterfly, but it's been about 50 years since I've seen one of them. When I was young, around 6 or 7, I would keep an eye out for any chrysalis I would find attached to the bushes I was always running through. I would break off a piece of the branch it was attached to, carefully carry it home, pop it into a gallon size glass jar with holes punched into the lid...and then WAIT. Each day when I got out of bed I would charge through the house to check out the jar. Did it emerge from the chrysalis yet??? What kind of butterfly would it be??? It was always interesting to see it unfurling it's wings as it came out. When it finally did emerge and show itself in all it's glory I had to take it around and show it to all my friends. Sometimes it turned out to be a moth (not quite of the same status as a butterfly in my young mind, but nice anyway). I hadn't yet figured out the difference between a chrysalis and a cocoon, which is a moth's cozy little hideaway. The next day my best friend and I would have a little fly-away ceremony (sorry, can't divulge any of the details because we took an oath) and release our treasured prize into the wild. Then we went home, cleaned out the jar and kept it nearby for easy access. In a few days or weeks we would be able to experience the thrill of the WAIT, again.
As long as I can remember I've always had a love of the intricacies of nature. Now I've been trying to plant things that would attract birds, and butterflies in particular, and have had a resurgence of butterflies in the past 2 years. When we first moved here I saw only a few Monarchs and the white Cabbage butterflies, but now we also have 4 other varieties that I've noticed.
Anyway, this is what was going through my mind when I made this card. Thanks for listening to my ramblings.
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 GMT Views: 1744
Favorited:3
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Proud Fan Club Member Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: April 18, 2011 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 51844
Tue, Aug 18, 2015 @ 3:17 PM
Ellen I loved reading your story, especially learning about your secret fly-away ceremony. Your card is just as wonderful, the rich background is a fabulous setting for your sweet butterflies.
------------------------------ Susie
Please don't take your organs to heaven - heaven knows we need them here.
Registered: November 15, 2008 Location: Joppa, Maryland Posts: 140
Fri, Sep 04, 2015 @ 8:40 AM
I love your card. I love the background paper you used, it looks like the outdoors and I love how you have the butterflies appearing to be in-flight.
Lovely!