A butterfly hatching

It’s another hot summer’s day on Symi. The water boat is rising slowly from the waves over by the clock tower and a cavalcade of watermelons, Cretan flower pots and plastic chairs is wobbling off the ferry and up the hill. The kiosk at the bus stop is doing a brisk trade in ice creams.

The accompanying photograph is of a butterfly hatching in an almond tree in my garden. I noticed it on Sunday morning, when I went to give the chooks their breakfast. It hung there, delicately drying its wings, for about an hour and then drifted off into the orange grove, leaving a neatly woven green chrysalis behind. Although caterpillars are a nuisance and voracious eaters, without caterpillars there can be no butterflies… Even in nature compromise is a necessity and one has to accept the bad to enjoy the good.

Have a peaceful week.

Regards,
Adriana