Journeys›Photograph

Monarchs in the Late September Garden

·San Francisco, California·#bay area#autumn#home#interior#monarch_butterfly
A Monarch butterfly with closed wings rests on a cluster of orange and yellow flowers.

Just a few quiet days at home in late September 2008. The weather was mild and pleasant, and the monarch butterflies were out in full force, taking an interest in the lantana we had growing in pots just outside. I found myself spending a good amount of time watching one of them as it moved deliberately from one cluster of flowers to the next, its orange and black wings occasionally catching the light.

It stayed for a while, seeming unbothered as I got close with the camera. It moved between the bright yellow blossoms and the other clusters that were a mix of pink and orange. It’s always a small highlight of the day when they show up, a moment of quiet focus on something so intricate and delicate.

The rest of the time was just regular life indoors. Here's a snapshot of our kitchen from that time. White appliances, light countertops, and that pass-through window looking into the living area. It's not a space I thought much about then, but it’s interesting to look back on these everyday details. Just a simple, calm end to the month.

A monarch butterfly with folded orange and black wings rests on a cluster of orange and yellow flowers.A butterfly with orange, black, and white wings rests on a cluster of orange and yellow flowers.A monarch butterfly with orange and black wings sits on an orange and yellow flower.A blurry orange and yellow butterfly rests on a cluster of bright orange and yellow flowers, with green foliage behind.A butterfly with orange and black wings rests on a yellow flower among green leaves and other colorful flowers.An orange and black butterfly with white dots rests on yellow and orange flowers, with green leaves and pink flowers in the background.

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