Who is there whose heart is not gladdened by seeing a butterfly? There are so many things negative in the world today, we need to remember that some things are just joyful and butterflies are one of those things. It is amazing how they can fly and even more amazing how they do it gracefully and with fabulous colors.
I think of butterflies as flying flowers that capture the light in the air and carry the light with each beat of their tiny wings. I have always been fascinated by their uneven and darting flight. Photographs do not do justice to the light on its wings.
This color is not fake. There are few flowers as remarkable as the iris. The colors and markings make for a gorgeous combination. We used to have a beautiful iris garden on the westside of Phoenix, in Glendale, but the owners got too old and sold out. It is sad sometimes to see change but I love flowers despite the fact that they last such a short time.
Sometimes there are magical moments when the light hits objects and makes them glow and seem to dance in the sunlight. This is one of those magic moments. The setting sun gave an unreal glow to the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees. I have several of these memories that I will always cherish.
I love the color and variety of plants and animals in a swamp, but I cannot truthfully say that I am a swamp fan. I guess I contrast the difficulty of moving around and the number of things in a swamp that want to bite or eat you, with the open world of the desert. Oh yeah, there are still things that want to eat you and bite you in the desert, but they aren't quite as prevalent or obvious as they are in a swamp.
I couldn't resist another photo of an alligator. I like the contrast between active predators, like scorpions, and these lie-around-and-wait types like Black Widow spiders. I know that alligators can have tremendous bursts of activity, but I have seen hundreds, perhaps thousands, of them and mostly, they have looked pretty inert. You might have to click on the photo to see this well hidden alligator.
Alligators are a metaphor for many of the problems in life. They simply lie there, waiting to happen, until the right minute and then bite you. You may think things are going along quite well, thank you. But little do you know that the alligators of life are waiting, sunning themselves, and ready to grab you by the leg or arm and turn your world upside down.
