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Caterpillars, milkweed and life stages

My sister is growing caterpillars. Actually she is growing milkweed to attract monarch butterflies to come stay and raise their families. Once abundant, milkweed is declining from herbicide and pesticide use, urban development, and other reasons. The monarchs, dependent on milkweed are dwindling in numbers. It is both the plant on which they lay their eggs and subsist on as caterpillars. This toxic diet protects them from predators as adults. Several generations are born and die over the summer, and the last are born to fly hundreds and even thousands of miles to winter over in Mexico or coastal California and make a return flight north the following spring. With their vivid orange and black patterned wings, monarchs are beautiful. It is this coloring though that warns away predators who know they are toxic.

How people can attract butterflies

If you don’t have the time or inclination to plant and tend a milkweed garden you can still attract butterflies. They will often come to you if you just sit still.  I was given some advice from my Dad as a young adult. Knowing art was my passion, he advised me to follow my heart with this caveat: “Stick to one thing and be the best you can be at that one thing.”  As with many young people, I listened but did not completely hear this advice. Following your heart when young can lead down many roads. I think I followed all the siren calls. I also think I inherited from my Dad, ironically, a streak of wanderlust. It is one that I still entertain, though certainly to a much lesser degree.

Balance

I have lived in California, Alaska and Arizona. I love going, exploring, experiencing and hitting the open road. I read somewhere that travel is like reading a book. If you only read the first chapter you limit most of the book, or possibilities. Being still is something that is very hard for me, perhaps it is an acquired taste. I know that both states contribute toward a balanced life. Maybe, like the monarch, there are times and seasons for everything.

Focus

Possibly learning how to be still in an active life is key. The ability to focus at the exclusion of distractions is a goal that eclipses all goals. Mastering that may just be the secret to a happy and successful life. While painting, focusing is directly related to a successful experience, and I suspect true of any endeavor. I have noticed the difference in paintings that have seemingly “just happened” and those that were huge struggles from start to finish. The ones that seemed to have painted themselves, upon reflection, were the one’s painted while I was calm and focused.

Tempered Passion

But what about passion? It is still there, it has just changed. All experience goes into the mix, and like tempered steel, is harder, finer, and more true.