I have been feeling thrilled to see 6 butterflies, all monarchs, emerging out of their chrysalises this week-end. We had a brief chat with our pastor when we got drive through communion. He's taking a very different approach to butterfly gardening, as he builds enclosures and moves plants and tries to keep caterpillars and butterflies safe. As a result, he's launched over 100 butterflies. Many of them are monarchs.
In some ways, it feels like important work, especially when I hear the news of how endangered this butterfly species is. In other ways, it feel ludicrous, especially when I consider the lifespan of a butterfly.
I had similar thoughts this week-end, during my two long walks. When I have time, I like to walk over to Holland Park, which is predominantly a boat launch area with some picnic tables. But there are trails and more trees than in the neighborhood, and a different water view.
Saturday I found a big potato chip bag on the trail, so I picked it up and threw it away. I did the same with some empty plastic bottles and a few other non-biodegradable food wrappers. It felt like the ultimate Earth Day kind of action: making a small gesture that likely won't have a long-term impact but it made me feel good. On Sunday, I returned to the park only to find more trash. I picked up a few more items and put the aluminum cans in the recycling bins.
I'm sure that there's more trash today. The trash cans don't have lids, and there aren't enough of them. It's been a week-end of beautiful weather, which means more people have been out and about. It's a never ending issue.
Still, I'll keep making the effort, one butterfly, one potato chip bag at a time.
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