BE LIKE A BUTTERFLY

Feeling like a butterfly these days as the cocooning occurring over the winter months is being shed. Trying to transition to more light and the thought of outdoor activities as the freedom of less outdoor wear. Still wearing good warm, waterproof boots and coat as the mornings are chilly. Butterflies are optimistic as metaphorically they are so symbolic of change. So what kind of butterfly would you be? I am just looking forward to seeing some Monarch Butterflies return to my garden again. Perhaps I'll look for butterfly images in the world. A quiet hope for all!!

TRANSITIONS-GOOD OR BAD

Transitions take us fromm one month to another, one year to the next, one pay period and the list can go on. Some transitions are welcome changes in our lives- parents to grandparents. Some transitions are painful- divorce, death, health issue. Life gives us more transitions than we can handle sometimes. The key is to face each one and just keep going! The going takes us to new and different places and parts of ourselves that may be untapped. There are many symbols that can be used for our transitions. I like the butterfly with its various life stages and meanings. The ugly duckling story is one of hope and beauty. We do not have to like every transition in our life. We just just have to face them. Are you going through a transition? How did you handle it? Did you have the supports around you to cope?

THE CONE FLOWER

is a beautiful and hardy summer flower. There are several clusters in my garden as with other perennials they tend to spread and grow. It is from the Compositae which really means the daisy family. I like the backwards petals. It is even known to have a herbal use. Apparently the roots can be used as an immune booster. I just think it is pretty and adds colour to the garden. The purple ones attract butterflies. I have been lucky to capture a picture or two of my monarch butterfly occasionally. With our current hot spell, it is good to know it is drought resistant.

Although they are found in many gardens, it is a wild flower indigenous to North America.

Do you have cone flowers in your area?
They make a wonderful welcome addition to a daisy garden. The colour amongst the white. What do you think? Do you like my sea of cone flowers?

YOU HAVE TO BE A CATERPILLAR

To become a butterfly. Life can be about transformations. To move forward we must let go of one part of our lives. Is it easy? Does it come with trepidation? Is change always for the better? Do we even like change? Do we have to like change? Can we help nurture those around us to help their journey forward? Like my backyard- I have many milkweed plants to help the journey of my little monarch butterflies. I help with one part of their journey. Sometimes I think about those who were part of my journey. Would they be happy, proud of who I am today? Fly away little butterfly- see the world!