Marianna's Blog

Sometimes Wrong is Alright
Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center
Last week, I was eavesdropping on visitors in the garden. I must confess to doing this every chance I get.
On this day, a mother was walking with her young child and pointing out butterflies, flowers and bugs at every turn. The child was fascinated, rather than fearful, of all the bees and wasps that were also flying.
I couldn’t help but smile as I thought to myself, “Wow, this mom is really doing things right. What a wonderful teacher she is.”
Then I overheard her say, “Look! Look at all these little butterflies! They are babies that will grow up to be big like those.”
I looked over just as she pointed to Tawny Emperors and Queens on the lantana and flame vine.

What the Caterpillar Thought...
Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center
I received a wonderful letter during the holidays, from someone I met at my first NABA Biennial Members’ Meeting. The card features my friend’s photo of a Queen eclosing and it now faces me, daily, at my workspace.
In this recent correspondence, we discussed events of the past year and what the next might hold for us. Bouts of disease affected us both in 2015, but my reflection seemed to focus heavily on all the dis-ease in my life—a life that is really comfortable 99% of the time.