My Summer Butterflies

Butterflies have captured my heart and imagination. They seem like living hope to me, reminders of beauty’s transcendent, eternal nature and paradoxical ephemerality. Like all creatures, they play important roles in our environment, and their well-being is worthy of study and protection.

This summer in Iowa, there have been so many butterflies! So many. Especially monarchs. I don’t know why there have been so many, but they have delighted me. Here are some of them I have found in my neighborhood: