Widow's Endorphins: Autumn Is Pretty in Pink

Widow's Endorphins: Autumn Is Pretty in Pink: With the arrival of Fall, I set out with my camera to capture the colour of Autumn.  I was expecting to find deep reds, fiery oranges,...

Autumn Is Pretty in Pink

With the arrival of Fall, I set out with my camera to capture the colour of Autumn.  I was expecting to find deep reds, fiery oranges, and brilliant yellows.  To my surprise, pink is in this season! Just look at all the shades of pink, lilac, and plum...

  

  

 

   

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Monarch Butterflies

Widow's Endorphins: Monarch Butterflies: For some, the sight of a butterfly is a loving sign from a deceased loved one, that they are ever near. Cultures around the worl...

Monarch Butterflies

For some, the sight of a butterfly is a loving sign from a deceased loved one, that they are ever near. Cultures around the world, from the Japanese, Chinese, and Russians, to North America's Indigenous peoples, see butterflies as symbols of souls, transformation or rebirth.  The ancient Greek word for butterfly - psyche - means soul.  In Mexico, where millions of Monarch butterflies arrive in late Fall, around All Souls Day and the Day of the Dead, the butterflies are thought to be returning souls.

Ironically, Monarch butterflies are threatened with extinction.  The US Center for Biological Diversity says the Monarch butterfly population has declined 80% over the past decades.  In July, their Senior Scientist, Tierra Curry wrote, "On top of the loss of milkweed in its Summer grounds, logging in its Winter home in Mexico has increased, a severe storm this Spring killed millions of Monarchs, and a mine now threatens the Monarch Biosphere Reserve."  Curry says the "catastrophic decline" in the Monarch population is in part due to the use of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide on genetically engineered Roundup resistant crops.  Milkweed is killed.  Milkweed is the only source of food for Monarch larvae.

Monarchs are a symbol of transformation, and of rebirth.  They metamorphosize from larvae, to caterpillar, to butterfly.  I have a coffee mug with the inspirational words, Just when the caterpillar thought its life was over, it became a butterfly.  It took on a whole new meaning, when my husband was finally listed for a liver transplant.  It takes on yet another meaning, now that I am in the "pupa stage", recreating my life as a widow. 

      
Schoolchildren learn about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly.  For those of us who've forgotten: the butterfly eggs are laid on the Milkweed plant, and the larvae hatch, and feed on it exclusively, growing into fat caterpillars.  The caterpillars then encase themselves in a hard, protective shell, and transform from this pupa stage, to emerge from the cocoon as butterflies.

As the days grow shorter, and the light changes, Monarch butterflies begin their migration from Canada and the US, into Mexico.  It's an arduous journey of 5-thousand kilometres, or 3-thousand miles to the warmth of their Mexican Winter home.

A 56-thousand hectare, or 140-thousand acre Monarch butterfly reserve in Mexico, is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. The government funds indigenous farmers in the mountain region to preserve the Monarchs.  There, the butterflies hibernate, until the siren call of Canada's northern climes stirs them.

I'll bet you didn't know that two dots distinguish the male Monarch from the female.  If you look closely at the photo above, you'll see two black oval shaped dots on a straight black vein, on either side of the tail of the Monarch.  It's a boy butterfly!

Did you know that the Monarch was the first butterfly to have its genome sequenced?  They were also transported to the International Space Station for breeding.  They truly are regarded as the monarchs of the butterfly world!

Science loves the Monarch, and so do The Arts.  I've added new designs to my Art of Where clothing line, based on the photo of the Monarch butterfly taken in Toronto's High Park last week. Great for those of you heading to Mexico for the Winter!

http://bit.do/draped-kimono

http:/bit.do/flare-dresses
http://bit.do/AOWbodycon

http:/bit.do/kimonos

Photographs and Designs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Inc.

Widow's Endorphins: G is for Gladiolus

Widow's Endorphins: G is for Gladiolus: Across the Northern Hemisphere, little ones are heading off to school for the first time. Daunting for them, and for their parents.  ...

G is for Gladiolus

Across the Northern Hemisphere, little ones are heading off to school for the first time. Daunting for them, and for their parents.  A new school year is at once exciting and angst ridden. They walk determinedly through the open doors of the school, and enter the hallowed halls of learning.

Over the years, they'll triumph over ignorance through knowledge, wisdom and experience.  They'll learn how to read and write, and express themselves.  They'll learn how to learn - how to find information, and make sense of it all.  They may do real battle with bullies, the loss of a parent or grandparent, or serious illness.  

For these little gladiators, a bouquet of Gladiolus, almost as tall as they are.  Gladiolus, with their long spiky, sword-like leaves get their name from the Latin word for sword, gladius.  The flower symbolizes strength of character, integrity, and never giving up - virtues of a great student.    

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.