Butterflies wanted,
Butterflies sadly missed.
Long blooms languish,
For want of their friends.
One swallowtail came, all alone.
Two cabbage butterflies danced and played,
But where have the Monarchs gone?
I remember them from my youth.
Now my youth is gone and so are the Monarchs.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
46 thoughts on “Butterflies Wanted”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Ncie
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Thanks! 🙂
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My university has an annual butterfly show that starts next month – basically a lush greenhouse filled with butterflies. Planning to take my girls. I shall study up to see what’s there!
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Oh, lovely. I wish I could go take a hundred pictures. They are so beautiful.
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The butterflies are disappearing! 😦 I still see one or two occasionally. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Monarch butterfly even when I was a child, only in books. Maybe England isn’t warm enough for them?
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I don’t know, maybe you don’t have milkweed or another plant they need. Too many milkweed plants have been pulled by suburban gardeners, that’s what I’ve heard. Perhaps it’s something else entirely. But I miss them.
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The Monarchs are declining, lots of web articles about the reasons. I grow a Monarch farm, a simply gorgeous Passion Flower vine. Is it warm year round where you are Brenda? If not, start one in a HUGE pot with a trellis and love it, feed it and it will do the rest. Bring it in, even to a porch, anytime it is going to go below freezing. Mine was about 6 inches when I planted it and it grew up over the house and covered an entire outside wall on my porch. It blossoms madly and I am surrounded by butterflies! Monarchs plus a few other species, bright yellow, zebra striped and tiny white ones. Plus, beautiful dragon flies and cute little frogs and geckos that live underneath.
Out front, I have a plant that was new to me, a Dutchman’s Pipe. Brown and orange caterpillars cover it a few times a year and then I have huge butterflies, Goldrim Swallowtails. They don’t eat leaves, they suck the sap from the vines and they devoured the plant the first year. I had a few leaves and tiny vines left. I watered, feed and loved what was left, and next spring it came back ten times bigger and this year the orange and brown caterpillars were more polite. They fed on the plant without devouring the entire thing. Butterflies are smart!
I feel like my flowers are Michelle’s flowers because they talk to her, and Belinda’s cause they make her smile, so you can share my butterflies! They love Michelle and Belinda too!
Here is a link to my butterflies!
http://womenwhothinktoomuch.wordpress.com/category/butterflies-2/
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I read your About and saw that you are from New England! I grew up in MA and NH.
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We are about to see the leaves change. It’s a beautiful time of year. But it’s a bit sad, too, knowing that the flowers will go dormant through the winter. 🙂 I will have to be contented with your photos of passion flowers. Magnificent! 🙂
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I will go check them out. What a wonderful story. It sounds like a fairy tale. I would love to write it. 🙂
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I so love this post and all your posts! you have the magic touch, XO Jeanne Marie
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Thanks!! What a lovely thing to say. 🙂 Hugs, Brenda
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I have seen some Monarchs this year, but nothing like it’s been in the past. There are still some around.
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Good to know. None near me. I am out walking most days for hours, and I haven’t seen one!
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Sad but true…
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I had more butterflies last summer.
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Forgot the photo all your Monarchs auditioned and were successful and starred in Under the Dome !
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Wow!
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😉
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All the monarchs were auditioned and used in Under the Dome! 😉
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Oh, so they were too busy and important to stop by. That makes me feel better. LOL
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😉
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They are not your monarchs gone south, but the monarchs are starting to appear here. Just one or two but it lifts the heart to see them.
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I didn’t see one all summer. Not one. It makes me sad. At least you are seeing them. Maybe they will come back one day.
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That is sad, not to see a single one. 😦
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Exactly!
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come back little ones, see you in the spring )
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Yes, the best part of winter — spring!! Well, aside from sledding, snowmonster building, snowball fights, snow days, hot chocolate and Christmas lights twinkling….
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Reblogged this on thinkingpinkx2 and commented:
Yippee for Pink Brenda and butterflies that we miss! Calling all butterflies! 😀 ❤
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Your youth is still there — just like the Monarchs. 🙂
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Aw, thank you! 🙂
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Butterflies butterflies come out come out where ever you are. I saw one yesterday but it didn’t stop by my house where my flowers are waiting as well! 🙂 I love this can I reblog it on PINK? I’ve been PINKing again on my vacation! 😀
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I would be honored to be pinked! LOL I feel like communing with nature now but it’s almost time to get my daughter. I just had a ladies lunch and I feel so good!! I love my friends, and you’re one!
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OH yes I love them too! I have not been to one in so long! You feel all talked out up and full of smiles! xoxoox
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Oh, set one up, my friend. They are so worth it!! 🙂
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I like that idea! I need to do that! 😀
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It really doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t matter who sets it up. In my group, one woman used to do it, I took it over, and eventually someone else may take the reins. Just drive the buggy to the pub and have fun.
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That is a great idea! Plus you get to laugh with friends! 😄😄
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I know, and it makes you a leader. 🙂
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I don’t know how the butterflies could resist that gorgeous color! Hugs!
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I know! Someday, maybe the word will get out. 🙂
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There are a lot less butterflies here in Canada too. But yesterday, they seemed to be everywhere I walked. 🙂 It was soooo nice.
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Oh, I wish I could have seen that. Other than the cabbage butterflies, I have seen only one. I remember seeing butterflies every day when I was a kid.
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Sad but true. We need our pollinators.
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Yes! I miss the Monarchs. My kids are growing up without them.
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