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A Joyful Noise

Pentas Nova

Lessons from a Swallowtail

July 3, 2019 by Melodye Shore
Swallowtail

This Swallowtail visited my garden, earlier this week. It perched itself on a nearby Pentas Nova, oblivious to the camera slung around my neck and the pruning shears I carried.

It lingered for a long while, basking in the sunlight and sipping nectar.

I snapped a quick photo and then observed quietly from a distance.

I was mesmerized by the slow, steady rhythm of its beating wings and the seemingly infinite patience it demonstrated as it unfurled its proboscis and drew it up again, probing for food in one flower and then another. A metronome of the natural world, its tempo was unaffected by the take-offs and landings at the bird bath adjacent, fluttering palm fronds, and the swirl of activity at the goldfinch feeder.

And in those singular moments, I was a student again, learning life lessons in nature’s classroom.

Posted in: backyard, be still, Butterflies, flowers, garden, gardening, meditation, Nature, nectar, Swallowtail Butterfly, writing Tagged: flower, meditation, Pentas Nova, Swallowtail

Western Swallowtail in my backyard (aka Nature’s Classroom)

August 7, 2017 by Melodye Shore

Tattered wings and faded beauty. No worries–it happens to everyone, eventually.

Swallowtail shows us how it’s done:  Bask in the warmth of the afternoon sun, drinking sweet nectar to your heart’s content and floating above it all.

Posted in: backyard, Butterflies, Nature, nectar, Western Swallowtail Tagged: Backyard, butterfly, mother nature, nature, Pentas Nova, Western Swallowtail

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