Flight of Butterflies Iris is the most beautiful, tiny and delicate of Irises that I have ever seen. I came across it a few summers ago at the Dorset Farmers Market. Michelle, who owns Tanner Hill Flower Farm and who grows and sells her own flowers and makes the most beautiful floral arrangements, had these beauties. I was in awe of them, and I couldn’t help but buy the container she had that day, and the following week I picked up two more from her to plant in my garden.

Once in full bloom, the petals fluttered in the wind like the wings of a butterfly, and I was there to experience it. I witnessed its “wings” opening and unfolding, preparing to take off just like the beautiful “butterfly” it was.

As these plants were at the end of their season, I knew I would have to wait a year before experiencing them in my own garden. I thought of them throughout the winter and hoped they were enduring the cold, snowy weather. After making it through the winter myself, I only could hope they did too, and to my shear joy in spring, I could see the beginnings of their spiky leaves reaching out from the earth.

As they continued to grow, I couldn’t wait to photograph them. I carved out time early one weekday morning, but that morning I could see that the rain was imminent. So, I checked the radar, and it looked as if I had just enough time to focus my lens on these flowers before nature shooed me back indoors. While focusing in on these beautiful buds with the wind mentoring me and the rain coming, I had no choice but to be patient—not my strong suit—and wait for the right moment to come.

As I “patiently” waited, I realized that this bud was beginning to bloom right before my eyes. It was truly an intimate moment with nature. As I continued to watch it, I noticed it had starts and fits, so I spent as much time as I could while it shared its inner beauty, but then I became a little restless and started weeding in my garden while I “waited” for more to unfold. Of course in my impatience, I missed some of its precious moments, and after realizing it, I decided I needed to refocus my view so I could continue to experience this budding transformation in realtime.

Once in full bloom, the petals fluttered in the wind like the wings of a butterfly, and I was there to experience it. I witnessed its “wings” opening and unfolding, preparing to take off just like the beautiful “butterfly” it was. How awe-inspiring nature is, and it’s just there waiting for us to take a moment to experience it.

Please share with me below: What distracts you from your focus, and how do you refocus?

FEATURED FLOWER
Flight of Butterflies Iris. Photographed in my garden.

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