Monarchs

There is something magical and mystical about butterflies. Here in the Bay Area, we are fortunate to have Monarch butterflies, migrate to various locations each Fall. 

For the past four years, I have unsuccessfully tried to take my Girl Scout troop to see the these powerful yet graceful little critters during their annual visit.  

I love having my girl scouts get up close to things in nature; hopefully planting seeds of awe and respect for our non-human kin.  But each year, the Monarch butterfly event has filled up too quickly, even for my New York self, to get us there. And each year since our troop started I have wanted to kick myself for not getting us in.

This year I knew I couldn't let the event pass us by yet again.  Determined and with a post it note to remind me, I finally got us signed up.

Once we got there I realized it actually turned out for the better that it took us so long to get there. With the girls to a bit older, I think they were able to better appreciate what they saw.  Most of the girls seemed to truly enjoy learning about the two thousand mile journey that the Monarch's make each winter, were shocked that Monarchs can lay hundreds of eggs each day along their way to California from Idaho, and that approximately four million made the Bay Area their home for the winter. Wow! And then, to look up and see them all flying in the sky and hanging from trees left us in awe and amazement. 

Butterflies are sacred, symbolic little beings; they represent transformation. They are beautiful, powerful, determined and inspiring. I hope that the Monarchs also planted seeds; of the qualities they possess and perhaps others, into those girls who were blessed to get up close and personal at long last.