Garden Muse Day: Spring Delights

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast."

~Alexander Pope

As gardeners, we know something about hope. We cover our tender perennials with mulch in late fall, hoping they will survive the winter to come. We plant trays of seedlings and set up artifical lights in hopes they will reward us with little green shoots patiently waiting for their day in the sun.





We know something about faith, too. Faith that the long, hard winter will not last, and that one day spring will indeed come. We peer into the ground looking for promising signs and are eventually rewarded when the first blooms appear.

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible."

~Christopher Reeve

Along with hope and faith, gardeners also know the meaning of patience. In a world of instant gratification, we are willing to spend time planting, knowing full well that it may be a year or two or more before we see the results. Yes, that is my first tiny hellebore bloom--and a bud--from hellebores planted last spring.

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul

and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all."

~Emily Dickinson

We have hope that the earth will awaken again each spring, and that the songbirds, the bees, and the butterflies will return to bring us joy. One of the symbols of rebirth in many cultures, and a very appropriate one for this Easter season, is the butterfly. Its transformation from a lowly caterpillar into a beautiful and delicate creature of flight is something that humans have marveled about for centuries.

Three Julias

I was lucky to have witnessed a small miracle of sorts on my recent trip to the Desert Botanic Garden in Phoenix, featured in my last post. The DBG has a butterfly exhibit open to the public from early March through early May.

Zebra Longwing

This was the second time I was able to visit the Butterfly Pavilion, and I made sure to allow adequate time during my visit to see it.

The exhibit is a butterfly lover's dream, as many different species flit about from flower to flower. Note the De Caan anemones again that I first saw at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show and which several of you kindly identified for me.

It was spring break in Arizona, and many children were visiting the Garden this day. The butterfly exhibit had to be a highlight of their visit, especially since many of these creatures were quite friendly and often stopped to say hello.

I found myself taking photos of complete strangers; thankfully, they didn't seem to notice as they were as entranced by the butterflies as I was.

As I entered the exhibit, the guide said to me, "Oh, you're in luck--they're just about to release the butterflies." I didn't understand what she meant until I walked in. Apparently, the Garden had just received a shipment of butterflies from a supplier in Florida. I didn't catch the details about how they are captured or how long their trip takes to Arizona, but I do know they are sent in boxes filled with wax paper-like envelopes, each containing a sleeping butterfly. Every visitor who wanted one was given a chance to take part in this little miracle. Children took special delight in releasing their very own "Sleeping Beauty."

Of course, I wanted to participate, too! The envelope was carefully torn open to reveal its precious contents. This one was a little woozy from her long journey from Florida.

Once the warm air hit its wings, it didn't take long for the butterfly to revive . . .

. . . and to be ready to take off. Seeing the butterflies come out of this dormant stage may not be as exciting as watching one emerge from its chrysalis, but it has to be the next best thing and was certainly one of the highlights of my visit to the DBG.

"Flowers and butterflies drift in color, illuminating spring."

~Author Unknown

Wishing all of you a very Happy Easter!




For other musings on this first day of April, be sure to visit Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago.