A Butterfly, Cactus Flowers & Fleeting Beauty

The spring in 2008 that I found Swallowtail caterpillars on my parsley I went into the garden daily. A chrysalis eventually became transparent, and I invited a young family over to watch; we got outside just in time to see the butterfly emerge. Neither I nor the little girl in our company had ever seen this before. But the little girl was not as excited as I was.  There was no way I could convince her that this beautiful moment was not a daily event. The family left. I stayed with the butterfly while its wings dried and until it took off and flew away.

May 17, 2012, I discovered a woman up the hill taking pictures of cactus flowers. I had walked by the cactus almost daily for years and had never seen the cluster of riotous pink petals before. When I commented, she said a man a few doors down had told her they only bloom for a couple days and when the sun comes out they close up. True or not, I didn't want to miss the occasion, and I joined her in the photo session. (It was true. They were closed when I visited again, five days later.)

Staying still. Watching carefully. Revisiting familiar places. Inspiration is abundant and waiting.

Those Who Wait Can Walk Through Walls, 2008

Book photo by Sibila Savage