On this special day I take the opportunity to wish you many blessings, good health, and peace in the year. I also shall share this poem by Emily Dickinson, one of my favorite poets. It is part of the collection of 1,775 poems that were not published until after her death in 1186.
“If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.”
We are about to enter into one of my favorite times of the year –the holiday season which encompasses Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas. I realize that life is far from perfect and there are so many humans and animals that are suffering. With that said, may we try to treat one another with kindness. May we have gratitude for all of our blessings, and may we protect this world with all of its beauty.
Here is a photo of a monarch butterfly and a honeybee which unexpectedly came before me while I was walking in a nature preserve. I was and am in such admiration of their magnificence and strength. Most butterflies only live 2-6 weeks, and the ones which migrate from Mexico to North America can live from August or September to April. Bees live 5- 7 weeks and are incredibly valuable to the planet. One out of every three bites you put in your mouth was pollinated by honeybees.
Remember, life is short and precious. Live it mindfully and share your love with others.
I just read an interesting article written by Margaret Renki, an author who recently wrote a book entitled, “Graceland, at Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache from the American South”. In the article she spoke about Eastern monarch butterflies, those beautiful creatures who manage to fly nearly 3,000 of miles from the United States to Mexico but whose population is down by 88%. She was trying to save some caterpillars (who would become butterflies) she brought home from a garden center and I admit, part of me was looking for some inspiration in her words. While I did not find a flowery quote, I found some solace knowing that someone else out there besides me is also trying to help the natural world. Thank you, Margaret Renki.
Did you ever watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly? I think it is amazing how they metamorphose from having no wings to having brightly colored ones. One of the most beautiful butterflies is the monarch butterfly, pictured above with its orange and black wings. They are famous for making a very long annual journey, about 3,000 miles, from Canada to central Mexico each winter. Each delicate butterfly travels 50-100 miles per day, despite weighing much less than half an ounce or one gram. Their wingspan is about 3-4 inches long or 9-11 centimeters. Can you imagine being that small and traveling so far? In comparison, the average human weighs over 100 pounds and stands more than 5 feet tall. And we do not have to use our arms to fly; instead, we jump on planes and make long journeys.
Many people delight in the annual migration of the monarch butterfly. They say it is amazing to see the blanket of orange and black when they arrive in Mexico. Millions of monarchs used to make the long trip between countries. Unfortunately, their numbers have dwindled dramatically due to climate change, herbicides such as Roundup, forest logging, and the lack of food. Monarch butterflies rely on a plant named milkweed. I know, the name “milkweed” does not sound nice to some of you. However, it is actually very pretty with small pink-purple flowers. Milkweed used to be abundant in the United States, however, has become scarce because of a government mandate for biofuel. That mandate pushed farmers to set aside less land for wildlife.
You can help monarch butterflies by planting milkweed, butterfly bushes, zinnias, cosmos, and making sure your garden is butterfly friendly. Or you can encourage your state and local governments, and the Federal Highway Administration to plant milkweed and flowering plants, instead of grass, along the roadside.