Of Ladybugs and Butterflies

Ladybugs and butterflies - magical insects?

Ladybugs are just so cute!

They travel, sometimes unnoticed, from flower to tree. They always seem to be busy yet don't have that nervous fluttering energy I find with bees and wasps. Besides - they don't bite!

As a child, we'd make wishes when we'd find a ladybug. All you had to do was put it on your index, extend your arm out, spin on one foot and quickly make a full turn while making a wish. Your wish would come true if the ladybug flew away.

Butterflies, on the other hand, represent the eluding freedom that many of us long for.

They flutter here and there, like many insects, yet they seem to have more grace and liberties. Their lives begin attached to the earth and then they morph into flight. Their lifespan is lived in two different forms - a bit magical and symbolic for some.



Butterflies are special for me. They symbolize my own transformation and ways. I too tend to flutter from one interest to another, continuously exploring life and my interaction with it. Ladybugs are also special because they remind me of childhood and innocence - simple and uncomplicated. My blog's name is inspired by butterflies - Pasha is my nickname and also a breed of butterfly and 'pillon' is the ending of the French word for butterflies 'Papillon'.

Rhododendrons ...

I went for a walk with my walking group last sunday and decided to drop into the rhododendron park nearby. What a sight! The rhodos were all in full bloom and the colours were remarkable!

Everyone seemed to walk around with a smile on their face even though it was an overcast day. Was the sight of all these beautiful, delicate, and colourful flowers transforming out mood? I think so.

There were so many colours - white, pink, pink and white, fushia, purple, mauve, and yellow. Some were slightly beyond their prime and others were just coming out. Most of the bushes were covered in flowers in full display for all to see.

The word rhododendron comes from Greek meaning rose tree. Technically these woody plants include azelas. They prefer well drained acid soils (a bit similar to orchids), and don't require full sunlight. I don't know how long this park has been open but some plants were quite large.

Below are pictures depicting a nice sampling of the colours. What surprised me the most was that many pistils seemed to be either silver or gold at the ends. It nearly made the flower look fake as it seemed to perfect.

I can't imagine what it would be like to have one's own garden full of these plants. I'd have to drag my PC outside each morning and sip my tea while I admired my flowers. The colourful display would add another layer of happiness.

The Irises are here!

The Irises are out! What lovely flowers!

Who would think
that such a lovely flower
would develop
from this asparagus looking plant?

It also amazes me as how quickly they show up.

One day there is a bud and the next day there's a flower! They are light and intricate just like an orchid except they don't last as long.



Irises come in many colours. Their name is derived from Greek meaning rainbow (because the various varieties are so colourful). I'm more familiar with blue, purple, yellow, and white irises since they grow well where I live. I don't have any in my garden but I still get to see them often since many people favour them.

I believe it was Van Gogh that did them justice in his painting. He painted them the year prior to his death when he lived in an asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. The first owner paid 300 francs for it (I wonder what 300 francs could buy in 1890) and the painting last sold for 53.9 million in 1987! The Irises painting was listed as the tenth most expensive painting in 2010 (taking inflation into account).  It's rather sad to think how so many artists can barely make ends meet while they paint yet generate so much interest and profit long after their death.

Life at Gairloch Gardens

There is always something new to see no matter how often I go to the Gardens. Gulls, geese, ducks, and swans have made it their home, and there are just enough of them to make it pleasant.

Gulls live along the quays, fly and scoop over the water, and at times appear to be the first level of 'defense' for the area as they perch themselves on the small quays.



The geese are usually either in the lake or in the largest pond in the Gardens. The pond area seems to be reseved for 'families' where the little ones are still to young to venture out into the lake. Geese families swim together as they teach their young. The parents often bracket them for protection.

And then we have the swans. There are only two present and they remain mostly in the stream area. They spend their day on the lake and come to the stream to relax and clean their feathers.

What I enjoy the most is watching families as they rear their young and prepare them to fend for themselves. So far I've only seen gooselings - no baby ducks or swans. It won't be long and the babies will be full grown and off doing their own thing. The parents will truly be empty nesters!

Borer Falls

My true intent in going to the falls was to take pictures. Borer Falls is locates in the escarpment ares, on the Royal Botanical grounds, along a section of the Bruce trails. The whole trip, there and back, took a good 3.5 hrs which turned into a lovely hike. Sinewy paths in the woods with a few hills here and there - perfect for a beautiful sunny day!

This was our first glimpse at the falls. We were level with the beginning of the falls in a small lookout along the trail.  We continued along the path and there was another cleared area where we could capture a side view.

Of course we wanted to get closer, so we continued along the path and found the area where the falls began. There were no protective barriers so we walked in closer. The water didn't seem to be that strong but the drop was very intimidating. I have a slight fear of heights so I laid down on the ground and continued to take pictures even though I felt a bit light headed. The following picture is a view of the falls as I looked down upon them.

We continued along the path hoping to find an even closer spot. The hills are rather steep but we did find an open area that wasn't too difficult to travel. There was even a rope attached to a tree so that we could safely rapel down a small section. The effort was worthwhile since we had a full view of the falls. The water gushed down and exploded into clouds of mist that felt refreshing against our skin.

All in all it was a wonderful outing. The hike turned out to be great exercise, the woods were calming, and the photographic opportunities were plentiful. I'm looking forward to hiking more sections of the Bruce trail.

The Many Facets of Water

I've seen many wonderful pictures of water falls, large and small, and what amazes me is how the photographer has managed to play with the crispness and flow of the water. I decided to try my shot at it after reading a few articles. These photos were taken on the Bruce trail as I hiked towards Borer Falls.

This picture was taken with the lowest f stop and a high shutter speed. The water is clear and crisp as it flows down between the rocks.

The pictures progress with high f stops and lower shutter speed.



I was happy with the results since it was the first time I consciously tried to change the outcome of the picture. The camera captures what we see yet we can impact the outcome by simply tweeking the settings.

The other interesting aspect is that the water can have such different textures, from crisp and distinct to flowy and united, similar to how life can seem to us. At times we are conscious of every little event and other times life just flies by. To an extent I could deduce that life will flow around me based on my perspective in the moment and yet I can also choose to be more present and catch every drop!