MY BUTTERFLY COLLECTION

On the Wings of the Butterfly

Butterflies are found throughout history in the fine arts, in crafts of all kinds, including cards and stationery, china and pottery, clothing and fabric, crochet, embroidery and needlepoint, carved and decorated furniture, garden objects, stained glass, low to high-cost jewelry, simple to ornate lamps, leather, linens, paintings, drawings, and watercolors. They can be found as decoration on pillows, boxes, household items, in diverse forms of music, and much more. The butterfly is an important, immortal, beautiful and universal symbol. We focus on the fragile state of butterflies as we learn to take more responsibility for the protection of habitats that attract them and nurture their survival. Butterflies are important to planetary health as they are both essential and symbolic to life on the planet; as pollinators like bees, they are crucial to the survival of the full range of flowers growing in gardens everywhere, as well as food and fiber crops. Butterflies are key indicators of climate change, global warming, and the balance of the entire ecosystem. My Butterfly Collection is intended for those willing to look, pause, and reflect on their experiences, and allow themselves to be transformed, moving from the mundane and negative, to examine the magical and mystical aspects of life. This book is a gentle blend of words, illustrations, inspiration and information—a combination of visuals, images and written expression. For the reader who wishes to learn more, we offer a suggested bibliography of books (stories, science, gardening, and related subjects) plus other useful resources (organizations, butterfly gardens, butterfly counts, and sanctuaries).