Return to a Winter's Oasis

Another new day turns towards spring painting a skyscape of brilliant hues.

As our earth turns and tilts the winter sun's bright light washes pastels with gouaches of white. I would like to take you out of this cold snowy landscape . . .  back into the enchanting oasis of the Magic Wings Conservatory.

Let us follow Eva to see how the butterflies are raised.

There is a glass case that holds hundreds of chrysalises. Magic Wings grow their own host plants and tend to thousands of caterpillars daily. When the caters molt for the final time and become chrysalises, some are placed in this case for the visitors to observe. It is a great way for all to learn about the metamorphosis of a butterfly.

Cocoons too! A Luna Moth.

This Malachite butterfly is ready to get out . . . it is not often one can see the complete underside of a butterfly. Soon she will be flying free in the tropical paradise . . .

joining a 'Small Postman' Heliconius erato . . .

admiring Calliandra trees and Chenille plants . . .

flying beneath Guava fruit . . .

eyeing an Owl Butterfly Caligo eurilochus enjoying sweet juices of Papaya... also grown in the Conservatory.

Passing a group of mystery butterflies just hanging out . . .

she may light and take a sip from one of these salvia like flowers . . .

or maybe the lovely Malachite would prefer a cocktail of fast food like this Zebra Longwing Butterfly, Heliconius charitonius. I guess bright blue attracts butterflies!

Or maybe red will tempt the newly released Malachite to join the Zebra Longwing, other unknown (to this writer) Heliconius and a striking Tailed Jay, Graphium agamemnon.

There are many real blooms in all shades of colors to explore.

If I were a fresh new butterfly, I would like to fly around my new world a bit, to see all of it's inhabitants before settling down. I might be curious about these Japanese and Butterfly Koi fish.

Surely this brightly colored Australian Gouldian Finch, Chloebia gouldiae would catch my wide eye!

I would keep my distance from these sweet Chinese Button Quail too!

Of course I know I am not a butterfly and I must watch where I step in this magical conservatory for these little guys share the walkway. I know I cannot stay here to live out my life in excitement like . . .

Fireworks. Clerodendrum quadriloculare . . . or a lovely

. . . might it be a Postman, Heliconius melpomene? No . . . that will not do . . .  I am human . . . a New Englander and must step out of this wondrous world back into mid January, to a landscape coated in freshly fallen frigid snow! I shall long to return to the beauty of butterflies whispering past my face and the soothing sounds of falling water and exotic calls of quail. I do so thank the folks at 'Magic Wings' for creating such a diverse WARM paradise . . . for giving me an escape from the cold world I call home . . .

Though it is a cold and sometimes dreary time of year, there is no need to truly escape. It is safe and warm inside, where my imagination can metamorph and fly as a butterfly. There is nothing remotely horrid about my life unlike the millions of Haitians suffering now. I have donated to co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer's 'Partners in Health'   . . . they have been providing health care to the poor in Haiti for over twenty years and need our help now. To learn more about the incredible work of Dr. Paul Farmer you might like to read the gripping novel by Tracy Kidder 'Mountains Beyond Mountains'. You can go to 'STAND WITH HAITI' to donate. If anyone needs an oasis it is surely these tragic victims of Haiti, who have been burdened with more weight than anyone should have to carry . . .  for far too long now.