GAIA'S HEARTBEAT experience the pulsing earth in photos
A new start – the source from which something new springs forth
I love caterpillars as much as I love butterflies and moths. Their shapes and colors are astounding. But even more miraculous is how a creature that has a multitude of legs and appears to be nothing more than a colorful sac filled with fluff can emerge to become a creature with scaled wings that flies higher than any human can jump. Take time to seek them out and smile at what Gaia has created!
It has been over eleven years since we became the caretakers of this sliver of paradise. Piece by piece we have exposed the bones of the landscape and nurtured the earth to help her grow into her current state of equilibrium.
Most days something unique crosses my path. More recently a camera accompanies me and I am honored to capture the unique, the beautiful, and sometimes the frightening. But one creature has alluded me these many years. I’ve seen the fruition of transformation but I’ve never encountered this creature in its larval stage until now.
And I must thank my Maddie for this chance encounter. She ventured into the woods with me but was reluctant to return.
I had to go in to retrieve her and there by her side was a Spicebush seedling with the elusive creature clinging to one of its leaves.
I hope you find this creature as amazing as I do. I feel it could have stepped out of the App Pokemon Go!
IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!
I live in eastern Pennsylvania and like millions of others along the eastern coast of the United States we are in a deep freeze. The sun is shining through the skylight but the warmth is deceiving. Just tried to drive to a local winery, the back roads were drifted over thanks to wind gusts of up to 40 miles an hour. I need a warm weather connection! So enjoy with me one of the most transformative creatures – caterpillars!
All the beauties you see here have called the gardens their home before transforming and flying away…
In science class we learn about the transformative ability of the four winged flying insects that float and flit about our gardens.
The Iris and the Lily 
