“Butterfly Bush” – Buddleia
“There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who do not. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.”
― José N. Harris
Ah, the butterfly bush, which takes over large areas as an invasive species, yet barely survives my garden. I am amazed at it’s frailty and resilience. In what should be ideal conditions it fails, yet prospers in places where it should surely wilt. I liken it to the quote above, which has become a mantra for me over the past few years.
I’ve planted this beautiful flowering bush in a few ‘ideal’ locations, hoping to shelter it from winter’s ravages. I have lost more times than I have won. yet, this plant, recovered from my mother-in-law’s garden when she downsized seems to survive year after year. I always leave a few stems un-pruned, so that I know where the plant is the next year.
All through the spring, the brown twigs sit dormant, seemingly dead and dried up. Then, suddenly, green buds appear and it leafs out, and gradually blooms. It’s been three years now and it keeps coming back, yet still only producing three slender stalks.
This year has been a bonus. I thought it was done blooming a few weeks ago, due to the drought we are experiencing this year. Yet, after a few short rainfalls, new flower clusters emerge, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to our yard. It reminds me, that sometimes, you have to wait for the beauty, firm in the knowledge that it will come, at the right time. Not my time, but the right time.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200mm with 20mm macro extender
1.6 sec, f/14.0, ISO 200
High Resolution image on 500px:
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three is sufficient if it is loving being in your garden and keep blooming. 🙂
colour is beautiful. And the shots you take make them even more beautiful. having contrasting colours presented against a dark background. Very beautiful.
Thank you
Lovely sentiment well expressed in words and image!
I love the way you write. I also love buddleias!
Their fragrance is delightful. Unfortunately mine have all died off.
Great picture.
Thank you
🙂 Gimme the butterflies…gimme the butterflies, too! 🙂
I love the quote – it’s so true. Took me nearly all my life to realize it.
I was happy to finally discover the source.
BTW – I’m going to a low light photography seminar tonight. Can’t wait to experiment. Love the contrast with this photo!
I’ve fallen n live with this technique. Looking to expand to other subjects and do some still life work.
Ok, it was way over my head…. I don’t even know how to do ISO and aperture. lol Time to watch some Youtube tutorials. lol 🙂
Pretty simple after a few tries. I publish all my camera setting at the end of each post.
I discovered this bush in my yard. I love the way you’ve captured it. 🙂
Thank you Amy