Our daughter, Jocelyn, takes a walk around their 3.5 acres just about every day with our granddaughter, who turned two last Sunday. They do so in all weather and through the seasons. They have been keeping an eye on Monarch Butterfly caterpillars, the chrysalises, and then, fittingly on Labour Day, a couple of emerging butterflies.
For me it is wonder-full that mother and daughter have experienced this together over the weeks. And I am delighted at how many Monarchs we have seen this year, as have many other people. The efforts to reduce pesticides and encourage the growth of milkweed may be succeeding. We humans regularly and seemingly defiantly act as though we are in the "terrible twos" when it comes to God's biblical injunction to be loving stewards of Creation. It's encouraging when we "play nice" with other creatures for a change.
Sara Dykman's Epic Adventure Route
In honour of Creation Time read this piece from Orion Magazine called Biking With Butterflies by Sara Dykman. Sara followed five generations of monarchs 16,000 kilometres on her bicycle, from Mexico to Canada and back: trailing the migration and lending my voice to the efforts underway to protect it; visiting schools; presenting at nature centers; and talking with reporters.
Whether it is the backyard delight or the epic adventure, This is God's Wondrous World.
Monarchs in Mexico, Winter 2018
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