Quote of the day: “Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.” — Walt Whitman
Mourning Cloak Butterfly (also known as Harbinger of Spring)
Yesterday I went for a walk in the woods expecting to see only the golden, brown, and grey colors that the in-between winter and spring days of March bring. What a wondrous walk I had! Everywhere I looked, another miracle of unexpected color appeared.
The highlight of my hike was a mourning cloak butterfly already emerged from it’s winter sleep. I did some research on this lovely early butterfly and discovered that it is also known as Harbinger of Spring because unlike most butterflies, it overwinters as an adult. As a result, the Mourning Cloak is one of the first butterflies to appear as the days start to lengthen at the end of the winter.
Lichens in all shades of green on dead branches popped today, because there was so little green anywhere else. I also found a fern that had managed to overwinter in it’s green state and lots of soft, velvety moss growing on the ground and on tree trunks.
The warm weather was delightful. I found walking in hiking boots, jeans, and a t-shirt, I was almost too warm. The ice was not yet out of the lake but the marsh had open water with lots of geese and ducks. Hawks circled overhead and the sounds of a world awakening from winter were music to my ears.
What miracles have you noticed today?
Colorful lichens
Green fern
Reflections in water at edge of ice on lake
We Two Are One - Pair of Geese in marsh
Subtle colors (path by lake with little bit of snow left)
Stepping Out Across Plank Bridge
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