‘One Word’ is this week’s theme over on ‘The Photo Gallery‘ at Sticky Fingers blog and I’m going with ‘Metamorphosis’, after a magical visit to the recently opened ‘Butterflies Alive!’ exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
I visited on with my youngest daughter, age four. She entered the magical world of the exhibition with careful tread, mindful to watch for any butterflies on the ground. There was a mix of wonder and trepidation in her gaze. Numerous butterflies skimmed past us, seeking out nectar from the exotic offer of colourful flowers. She was a little concerned about one landing on her, and what she should do if that occurred, so I passed her my camera to distract her thoughts and she quickly became absorbed with taking photographs of them.
She proudly told me she knew what the word metamorphosis meant and enjoyed rolling all five syllables out on her tongue as she posed for photographs depicting the incredible transformation a caterpillar makes, changing into a butterfly.
All the while I couldn’t help but think what an incredible metamorphosis was happening in my own children, every moment, every day, every year.
Only four years ago she was a babe in arms, cooing to me as I pointed out nature’s wonders all around her. Now, here she was, striding along the pathways of the museum’s ‘backyard’, articulately describing to me all that her gaze fell upon.
Pacific Plate Brit 
Fabulous, colourful photos. 🙂 xx
We “grew” some butterflies last year. Metamorphosis is amazing
Yes, in our home in New Zealand, we’d buy swan plants (milk weed) every spring and watch over the eggs growing into caterpillars, getting plump and then making themselves ready in their cocoons. It was incredible to then watch them slowly emerge a couple of weeks later. Truly amazing.
This is stunning! I think that butterflies are so magical for children (and adults!) and make for the most beautiful shots. Some great captures here 🙂
Beautiful photos xxx
Fantastic photos! Love butterflies!
Beautiful photos of some fabulous butterflies. And it’s true, our kids are metamorphosing before our very eyes all the time. I can hardly believe my kids were ever 6, let alone toddlers or newborns. I’m sure they’ve always been big!
How magical!
Lovely colours, and a fitting metaphor, methinks.
Lovely photos and what a great compassion 🙂
Such a beautiful post hun, gorgeous pictures and analogy
I have been going to the gardens and cant find any butterfly lately. YOur pictures are so alive and the colors are so vivid =)
Lovely pictures. I love butterflies
Wow amazing photos! Makes me want to research my local butterfly farm! Amazing colours!
That is just my kind of place #ThePhotoGallery
This is so lovely – beautifully written and lovely pictures.