Story description: Bernie tells an allegorical story about a town that once celebrated nature through kite flying but gradually traded its joy and biodiversity for manicured lawns, persuaded by a salesman selling tidiness. As the kites disappeared, so did the butterflies—until one hidden kite beneath a leaf pile quietly gave way to nature's renewal. The story highlights the ecological importance of leaf litter as habitat for insects like butterflies and moths, urging readers to embrace a little wildness to support life's cycles.
The Butterfly That Leafed Out
A nature story from Jericho, Vermont
by Bernie Paquette
Long ago, the people who lived in Jericho and Underhill, Vermont, below the great Mount Mansfield, could always enjoy the spring and summer, floating many kites, each carrying their own artistic design. On any warm and sunny day, vibrant colors and patterns frolicked in the gentle breezes. The adults generally were calm and delighted, standing in place holding the tether of a kite. Others enjoyed sitting and watching the many wings and tails fluttering across the blue sky.
The people of these communities believed they had the best views of Mount Mansfield and the best sky views, thanks to their kites.
Children were prone to chasing the dainty flying pallets of color. Sometimes, they reached up as though they could pull the kites from the clouds, other times opening their palms and outstretched arms to give a kite a lift or a perch to land on. Often, they chased the kites back up into the sun and clouds above. Never did they tire, though hardly ever did they capture a colorful kite.
Across the region, the kites were viewed as symbols of rebirth, representing change, hope, endurance, and life! They represented new beginnings, giving people hope for what the future was to bring. To catch such a symbol and not release it was to break the cycle of life.
One afternoon, a salesman drifted through Jericho and Underhill. Seeing that the townspeople had so much free time on their hands, he recognized a way to sell his (be)wares of rakes, bags, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. Knowing that their enchantments could not easily be displaced with the monotonous, noisy, carbon-spewing, time-stealing tools he would profess they needed, he set out to enlighten them about their status within the community at large.
First, he met up with one family at a time and impressed upon them how beautiful, special, and unique their kite was. Just as before, the skies were full of vibrant colors and patterns, but each adult now recognized only one as worthy of their delight. The children continued to see beauty in them all; they were not tempted by external symbols of superiority.
Next, the salesman suggested to the people in the town how the leaves, when blowing about, diminished the beauty of their kites. Only the most colorful flying things must enter your realm, and those who fail to reach such beauty must not be allowed to stay.
And so the townsfolk bought into the stranger’s lure. For the adults, that was what mattered most; to the children, not so much.
Soon, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and rakes led people away from leisure and thwarted the calm of quiet, not to mention taking more than a bit of change from their pockets.
Still, the children continued to play, chasing the fluttering kites representing the cycle of life.
Until, one fall, fewer and fewer kites and butterflies set out upon the skies. The ones that did wore faded colors and fluttered as though their livelihood hinged on malign influence. The skies no longer were filled with cheerfulness. The adults took little notice as they had their eyes on the ground, disposing of leaves. They, too, began to feel like their lives hinged on the malevolent status symbols they had been sold on.
The town meetings were filled with questions. Why are our children no longer carefree, chasing kites? What happened to what we loved most about nature, quiet, and our free time in Jericho and Underhill?
Soon, nearly all the kites had vanished. Then, only one last kite remained. Its owner held to the old ways and never took her eye off the vibrant colors that represented the cycle of life. She did not adhere to the faux beauty of manicured lawns, including removing Mother Nature’s winter blanket of leaves. Alas, one kite cannot live forever.
The last kite was buried under leaves from an old oak witness tree. In the past, the oak tree had captured some of the kites and held them warmly in its embrace until gently releasing them to fall upon the ground in the fall.
The mighty oak tree knew how much the townsfolk, especially the children, adored the kites. In addition to being compassionate, the oak was full of wisdom and knowledge. Oaks can heal poison, strengthen the sick, and certainly bring vitality and energy through the blessing of the acorn.
The oak leaves were left undisturbed over the kite burial site.
The tree and fallen leaves were able to renew the cycle of life.
The wise oak wanted the people to know that you go through changes before you become something beautiful. No stage is permanent. When bad things happen, we should remember that this, too, shall pass. Also, the oak wanted to ensure people knew that the beauty in life should not be taken for granted, ignored, or given up for fleeting symbols.
Thus, the oak tree conspired with Mother Nature to replace the kites with vibrant, colorfully patterned butterflies and moths to fill the skies both day and night. These butterflies and moths overwinter in the landscape as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis, or adults. They use the leaf litter for winter cover, and some caterpillar species eat dead leaves.
Brown-hooded Owlet (Cucullia convexipennis)
This design was to remind people that all beautiful things need a place to go home, sleep, eat, refresh, and overwinter. If their required habitat is left undisturbed, hope and faith will be honored with the fluttering of delicate wings of beautiful and diverse colors and patterns dancing in the sky and occasionally frolicking with the children who chase them.
Ever since then, the butterfly has been a symbol of transformation, hope, and faith. The butterfly is also a symbol of rebirth since it goes through many life cycles -- from larva to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally to a beautiful, flying butterfly.
Today, when the children stretch out their arms on a warm sunny summer day, a butterfly may indeed land on them. The natural salt and minerals in sweat can draw a butterfly to land on a child’s palms. The child’s sweat is just as sweet as a flower's nectar to butterflies.
Birds rejoice in turning over and tossing leaves in search of food, especially the highly nutritious caterpillars whose soft bodies are perfect little sausages to stuff down their babies' throats.
Just as each kite took on its own unique beauty, so too does each butterfly and moth species. Butterfly wings are covered with thousands of tiny scales overlapping in rows. The scales, arranged in colorful designs unique to each species, give the butterfly its beauty.
Butterflies and moths remind us to be light and free. Have some fun. Be in the moment. Look up and around at all LIFE forms and species.
From butterflies' association with change and transformation, take time to bask in the sun the next time you see one, allowing it to energize you for whatever change you're going through.
Remember, a caterpillar has as many as 4,000 muscles in its body, but it is no match for a leaf blower or a lawn mower. Most importantly, caterpillars become beautiful butterflies and moths to pollinate and feed other animals - ONLY IF they have the habitat they need to live their full life cycle.
Many, if not most, species of caterpillars (and many other insects and animals) tuck themselves into leaves on the ground for protection from cold weather and predators. Most Lepidoptera species in the eastern United States overwinter in one of the larval instars or as a pupa.
Butterflies actually have four wings, not two.
Butterfly wings are transparent.
Butterflies use their feet to taste.
Butterflies only live for a few weeks
Butterflies have a liquid diet
Adult butterflies are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink, and purple blossoms that are flat-topped or clustered and have short flower tubes.
Though they may seldom catch them, kids love to chase butterflies.
