I heard someone say if you are photographing animals and insects, you should be sure to get direct eye contact.
So when I was trying to get a picture of this dragon-fly, I specifically asked him if he would please look at me.
He looked right at me! He understood exactly what I was asking him.
Who says critters don’t communicate with humans?!
It’s just more evidence that we are ALL (every human, animal, insect, plant, etc) connected….we are all ONE.
On my walk today I noticed a group of butterflies. They were all quite vibrant, but these two stuck out the most for me…
Each one took time on a flower before moving on to the next flower.
As I watched, I became mesmerized by them. Everything else around me seemed to vanish from my perception…. only the butterflies held my attention.
As I pondered their message for me, it was clear that they focus on ONE THING at a time… one flower. Once they are satisfied with that flower they move on to the next.
In the midst of it all, they are not frantic… they are completely at peace.
My heart spoke out to me that this is the perfect example of meditation.
Block out everything else, focus at one thing at a time, and be at peace. Once you are comfortable with one point of focus, move on to the next… but not until then.
Challenge yourself to take time to meditate (or pray, whatever word you use for communication with the divine). Be still, block out everything else, and be at peace.
While checking out progress on the sun room garden, I found this beetle hanging out on a pepper plant. It’s amazing to me how shiny these guys can be!
I didn’t realize until recently that ladybugs are part of the beetle family. You can see below that they definitely are related!
We discovered LOTS of aphids in the room so we decided to get ladybugs. We picked up a pack of 2000 of them to assist in aphid control. Here are a number of them right after being released onto a squash plant.
They quickly made their way to other pots in the room.
Here, it looks like one is keeping the other from falling off the leaf!
Another beetle we’ve seen around here is a striped beetle. This one is hanging out by the front door.
We learned that this one will HISS at you if you blow on it! In the process of hissing it hikes the body up so it’s standing on just two legs on the same side of his body.
Wait a minute…Isn’t that YOGA?!
This flower bunch is along my walk path. Really not sure what it is, but it’s pretty.
I’ve noticed that all of these plants have a cluster of six blossoms, one standing higher than the rest.
The Mexican Hats, also known as Prairie Coneflowers, dance in the summer breeze. Two of these flowers have insects hanging on for the dance.
They are just so graceful!
I couldn’t resist capturing the sunflowers last night. As I did, a green bug landed on this one. He has himself coated in pollen.
All of these flower look delicate, but they are certainly strong to withstand the hot dry climate of New Mexico.
Mexican Hat is available for purchase here.
Soaking Sunflower is available for purchase here.
A light green butterfly peacefully floated from flower to flower. It looked like it was looking up at me smiling as I took its picture! It rather convinces me that insects have souls with sensitivity.
The way this bee was standing on the flowers, it appears he has on little slippers!
I love how the Cholla cactus delicate flower petals glisten in the sun.
I looked up to one cactus in time to see a bee dive into the heart of the flower. Pollen dropped all over the inside. You can just see his back at the “4 o’clock” position from the center.
Finally, the bee came out and shook a little bit of the pollen off of him. When he first came out, he totally blended in with the pollen in the center of the flower
What if we had the same peaceful attitude the butterfly has?
What if we were as resourceful as the bee?
What would happen if we dove into our passion and/or our work with as much determination as this little bee? What if we didn’t mind getting a little dirty in the process?
What kind of impact could we have in our own lives as well as the world around us?
Having moved my office to the front porch in hopes of observing the entry of a butterfly into the world, I had the opportunity to see those who already emerged.
This yellow butterfly was on the flowers by the labyrinth. It was kind enough to hang around long enough for me to snap a few shots. It almost looked like it was kissing the flowers!
The darker butterfly was in the courtyard and was kind enough to open its wings for me to get a good view.
I realized that what I thought was a moth cocoon was actually a butterfly chrysalis.
A cocoon is on the furry side while a chrysalis is not.
Moths spend long, preferably cold winter months transforming in a cocoon on or under the ground, while butterflies spend less than a couple weeks hanging from something in a chrysalis.
Moths move their wings to move up, while butterflies use the sun to warm them.
Moths have ears, but butterflies cannot detect sound.
Moths usually rest with their wings open, where butterflies usually rest with theirs closed.
Moths are mostly active at night, whereas butterflies are mostly active during the day.
I love learning new things!
(Disclaimer: If I discover that I’ve been in error on identification of these flying insects, I reserve the right to expand my knowledge base!)
“Hear ye, Hear ye….will you just be still and listen?!” Not quite sure what he wanted to get across, but this guy was standing up to a board that served as podium and had such a stern and serious look about him. He looks as though he’s tapping his nails on the board trying to get everyone’s attention!
This prairie dog silently stood guard at the entrance of his home. One would think he was kin to the British guard as still as he was even though I was fairly close to him.
While walking home this guy ran across the road in front of me. he just sat there posing for me. Perhaps our rabbit population is on the increase finally?!
This green butterfly patiently waited for me to take his picture before taking off for his next flight.
Later a dainty white butterfly danced from flower to flower drinking deeply of the nectar. It seemed to be singing “catch me if you can” while i was trying to shoot! It rather looked like a little fairy going along kissing all the little flowers.
A white and tan variegated butterfly was almost as quick as the white one in search of a sweet drink.
The opportunity to see beautiful creatures of any size around me is a wonderful blessing.
That I can share some of what I see with others is a priceless gift. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
One of the family was leaving for work one day when they announced to the rest of us there was a caterpillar hanging from the jam over the front door… front and center!
That afternoon we noticed he had completed his work of sealing himself into a cocoon.
We found several of these hanging around our porch area, including one on the ceiling. We found this guy freshly out of his little self-built cage.
A couple hours later he had let go of the casing of the cocoon and was preparing for flight.
How a spiny crawling “worm” can transform into a beautiful flying wonder is beyond my comprehension.
Though I must consider what others have talked about with the Annular Solar Eclipse a couple weeks ago, followed by a partial Lunar Eclipse just yesterday and Venus transiting the sun today and tomorrow. It’s all about change.
It is time for us all to change.
I think part of the change for us is to quit groveling in the dirt, go deep inside ourselves for personal spiritual transformation, and come out flying gracefully through life being present in this time and space, helping others to do the same.
A change for our highest good…. A change to PEACE.
As the kids were leaving for work, they found this caterpillar hanging from the very center of the headboard above the front door. It looks like he wants us to be able to really watch his transformation.
Next, by mid-afternoon, you can see him totally wrapped in a cocoon. So amazing how these simple little creatures can, without assistance from others, peacefully wrap themselves up, knowing it is time for a change.
While out watching a hawk (no I didn’t get clear pictures of him) I heard what sounded like a hundred tap dancers. I looked and looked and finally saw this Cicada in a pinon tree. Clearly, he’s not the only one out there, just the only one my eyes adjusted to see.
Some call them 17 year bugs.
Nirnasha was hanging out on the patio again….scooping up stray sunflower seeds to take back to his hole. You can see he has a cheek full!
And last but not least… George….one of several Georges that reside here. He was enjoying the cool straw in the shade of a lilac bush. He wasn’t necessarily humored by our presence, but he did allow us to look at him for a while.
This one looked like we were having a stand-off! He really seems to have a tolerant personality.
Bull Snakes are beautiful animals. Their detail, when you look up close, is amazing! I’m not interested in handling them, but they are handy to have around….allegedly they eat the rattlesnakes.
This butterfly hasn’t a care in the world. It simply chooses to BE.
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