“Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.”
—Author Unknown
“Butterflies…live most of their lives completely ordinary…then one day, the unexpected happens. They burst from their cocoon in a blaze of colors and become extraordinary…It shows us how empowering change can be.”
—Kelsyleigh Reber
While taking our granddaughter Emmy for a stroll around the perimeter of Rinconada Lake where Cecile and I live, I spotted a mourning cloak butterfly.
Though it can be seen in forests, along streams, parks, and fields throughout the United States and Canada, this was the second time I have encountered one.
It gently zigged and zagged until settling on the edge of a rock. As I gently approached it folded its wings tightly together and was completely still. I found out after my first encounter of a mourning cloak a couple of years ago that it is their attempt to camouflage themselves from predators. After a few minutes it opened its’ wings again, long enough for me to capture its’ beauty before flying off again. Though I wished it could have stayed a bit longer, I felt so fortunate to have seen this beautiful creature for a brief moment in all its glory and beauty.
Postscript: The mourning cloak is a unique butterfly, with special markings that do not match those of any other type, making it easily distinguishable. It has a wingspan of up to four inches. The dorsal or top part of wing is dark maroon, with a black band with bright iridescent blue spots and a ragged pale-yellow edge. It is powerful flier with a life span of 11 to 12 months, one of the longest lifespan for any butterfly that appears in the early spring. The mourning cloak is so called because it resembles the cloak worn by people who mourn the loss of a loved one. Other older names for this species include grand surprise and white petticoat.
