“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

Every year in September as the days grow shorter and the temperatures begin to fall, I become wistful for the summer. In winter, I miss the color — the greens of grass and trees, the vibrant blue skies and billowing summer storm clouds, the happy flowers smiling up at the sun, and the hummingbirds and butterflies which bring the world to life. I don’t think I’m alone when I say I’d love summer to last a bit longer …

In fall, if you take a few moments to notice, you can see the butterflies and hummingbirds taking flight. Though they all have different hibernation and migration patterns, they all journey far for the winter, especially from the northern states like where I live in Ohio.

Monarchs, the bright orange butterflies we see on flowers and in the countryside, migrate all the way to their winter home in Mexico. From Ohio, to reach the preservation in the mountains north of Mexico City, Monarchs fly about 2000 miles in the fall. It’s amazing, right?

Over a period of about an hour yesterday afternoon, I saw more than 10 monarch butterflies flying toward warmth, southwest toward the sun. They’re heading toward Mexico, where they’ll cluster in the pine and oyamel trees in the mountains, their winter home. Then they begin the migration all over again. For more, visit sites which specialize in the science and migration.

The butterfly life cycle is amazing to me, especially that the different generations of butterflies can find the path back and forth to their summer and winter grounds. I recently read Maya Angelou’s quote, which I’ve added above:

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

It’s true. All beauty isn’t automatically beautiful. It becomes, through hard times, and because of those hard times, shines more brightly than it would have without the hard times.

I think the extra ingredient in true beauty is gratitude. When we have been through the darkest nights and made it through to the rising of the sun, we are grateful for that sunshine, whereas before we might have taken it for granted.

12 of My Favorite Butterfly Photographs

the regal Monarch, who at this time of year flies thousands of miles to its winter habitat in Mexico

wings like stained glass windows

I still hold to this saying:

Have you noticed the Monarchs migrating this autumn?