It was Ray Bradbury, in his book ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING, who taught me about making lists of words and turning them into titles. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it.
For no particular reason,
today's word is:
Butterfly
Actually, I do have a reason for choosing butterfly. Last week conditions were just right for millions of American snouts (and some yellow and white ones others too) to come out in force. At times they were so thick as they flew close to the ground that they looked like leaves blowing in the wind. As of Sunday, they were still flying through.
Some of us have been driving slower in an effort to prevent the darlings from committing suicide on our windshields and grills.
This is the third time I've seen an invasion of butterflies.
Here's what I've learned:
Apparently a percentage of the larva can stay in state of suspended animation for many years, even decades, until conditions are right. It's called a diapause.
The official name for a group is a kaleidoscope of butterflies. However they are also known as a swarm or a rabble. Although I like a kaleidoscope, I think a flutter of butterflies should be nominated. All in favor, raise your hand.
Now, on to titles.
Butterfly and Bee: A Love Story
The Butterfly Dragon, or, The Dragon Butterfly (that's for you, Lee McKenzie)
The Zebra Butterfly
Butterflies Rule!
To Be Part of the Kaleidoscope: The Autobiography of a Butterfly
jimi hendrix- little wing lyricss from kmkm on Vimeo.
Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind
That's running wild
Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams
And fairy tales,
That's all she ever thinks about
Running with the wind
When I'm sad she comes to me
With a thousand smiles
She gives to me free
It's alright, she says
It's alright
Take anything you want from me
Anything
Fly on, Little Wing
today's word is:
Butterfly
 |
| The American snout's wingspant is between 1 1/2 and 2 inches. |
Actually, I do have a reason for choosing butterfly. Last week conditions were just right for millions of American snouts (and some yellow and white ones others too) to come out in force. At times they were so thick as they flew close to the ground that they looked like leaves blowing in the wind. As of Sunday, they were still flying through.
Some of us have been driving slower in an effort to prevent the darlings from committing suicide on our windshields and grills.
This is the third time I've seen an invasion of butterflies.
Here's what I've learned:
Apparently a percentage of the larva can stay in state of suspended animation for many years, even decades, until conditions are right. It's called a diapause.
The official name for a group is a kaleidoscope of butterflies. However they are also known as a swarm or a rabble. Although I like a kaleidoscope, I think a flutter of butterflies should be nominated. All in favor, raise your hand.
Now, on to titles.
Butterfly and Bee: A Love Story
The Butterfly Dragon, or, The Dragon Butterfly (that's for you, Lee McKenzie)
The Zebra Butterfly
Butterflies Rule!
To Be Part of the Kaleidoscope: The Autobiography of a Butterfly
***
Because the word butterfly appears I offer up Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix. The lyrics are so beautiful.jimi hendrix- little wing lyricss from kmkm on Vimeo.
Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind
That's running wild
Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams
And fairy tales,
That's all she ever thinks about
Running with the wind
When I'm sad she comes to me
With a thousand smiles
She gives to me free
It's alright, she says
It's alright
Take anything you want from me
Anything
Fly on, Little Wing
Being Thankful
Today I'm thankful for butterflies.
Tiger swallowtail on Esperanza. (By the way, Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish.)
Deep into the nectar.
***
What are you thankful for? Ever seen a kaleidoscope of butterflies? What would you call a swarm? Care to share a butterfly title in the comments? Do any of the ones I've given inspire an idea?
What a lovely post, Bish. I didn't know that the collective noun for butterflies was 'kaleidoscope' - I think that's rather wonderful. And what a coincidence that you are posting about butterflies, because my current blog post is about Small Tortoiseshells... great minds thinking alike?! :)
ReplyDeleteSusan at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks, Susan!
DeleteYes, we must be thankful for butterflies. There are becoming so many less of them in many places.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Natalie. Here in Texas there's a big effort to plant the milkweed plants the Monarchs need for their journey to and from and Mexico.
DeleteHi Bish - lovely post ... and I love butterflies - I've seen a few this year ... but not having a garden - I guess it's logical I don't see that many. I'd say Flutterbies of Butterflies ... but a flutter of butterflies is a fun idea ...
ReplyDeleteI only ever saw one of those 'swarms' was when I was in Greece decades ago .. and they were hatching at a special valley ... amazing to see ...
Cheers Hilary
I feel like a person should experience at least one in a life time. I've been blessed to witness three so far.
DeleteI've never seen that many butterflies in one area. That one's pretty. Almost looks like a moth.
ReplyDeleteI think it looks like a month because of the "snout".
DeleteA "flutter of butterflies." How appropriate.
ReplyDeleteLove Little Wing. I've always had a special fondness for the Derek and the Dominoes version.
I agree, the D & D version is a nice one, but I'm very partial to Jimi's.
DeleteFirst, I love that title. And thank you so much for thinking of me and the dragons! We get a fluttering of Monarchs each year and have to do what you do to avoid them flying into our cars. How amazing to see so many lovely winged creatures in the sky.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the title! To have seen this phenomenon three times now is the real wonder to me.
DeleteYour flutter of butterflies has a nice rhyme going, and a sense of action, but I also really like the official group word, kaleidoscope. Very evocative!
ReplyDeleteYour description of the big groups reminds me of a truly wonderful Barbara Kingsolver book I read last year, Flight Behavior, about a kaleidoscope of monarchs migrating to Tennessee instead of Mexico like they're supposed to. The phenomenon sets of an unusual series of events in the small town where they land.
Wow, interesting idea for a book! I may have to check into that one.
DeleteThat is one of my favorite Hendrix songs ever. Esperanza Rising is the title of a book my daughters read in fifth grade. A flutter of butterflies makes perfect sense, but kaleidoscope is pretty cool too. We always get excited when we see butterflies around here.
ReplyDeleteI have read Esperanza Rising, it's a wonderful story.
DeleteNever heard of a snout. Other than what's on one's face.
ReplyDeleteGame of Butterflies!
Oooo, I like Game of Butterflies!
DeleteI would love to see so many butterflies. The morning after I learned of my dad's death, a very large black butterfly flew around me and stayed near me for quite some time when I walked out the front door. I've always thought my dad sent the butterfly to tell me everything was okay. He had very dark hair, skin, and eyes. I'm thankful because I went to a concert with my son on Saturday night.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
What a beautiful story! If it had been me, I would choose to believe that butterfly was my dad.
DeleteSounds both beautiful and scary those flutter of butterflies.
ReplyDeleteTitles: The Butterfly Code, Butterfly Kisses, Butt-er-fliii, Butterfly whispers.
Nothing scary about the butterflies. Love the titles! Your Butterfly Whispers prompted this title, The Butterfly Whisperer. :) Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThose are some cool butterfly pictures. I've got a section for butterflies on my screensaver.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Donna! Sometimes I surprise myself with the pictures I take.
DeleteI can just imagine such a flutter! We used to have quite a few white butterflies (or moths--now that I think about it, I'm not certain which they were) in the summers over the alfalfa fields. I loved watching them :)
ReplyDeleteZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING is one of my all time favorite books. Beautiful photographs.
ReplyDeleteThis was SO lovely! I loved this. Beautiful words and pictures. Perfect to brighten my day.
ReplyDeleteZen and the Art of Writing--how did I not know about this book? I'm off to look it up right now. Thanks!
ReplyDelete