On slowing down

Black-veined whites having a midsummer feast

Yesterday, on the way to the grocery store, we drove past a group of black-and-white butterflies on side of the road. There were at least ten of them and they were sitting and fluttering right on the surface of the dirt road. What an intriguing sight. An hour or so later when we drove past the same spot while returning from the shop the butterflies were still there. So obviously I had to google what was going on.

These butterflies are called black-veined whites. It's a butterfly that is relatively common in Eastern Finland where I am at the moment. I recognised this butterfly but I had never seen them act like this. So do you want to know what they're doing when they’re grouping together like this? They do it to drink water and to get some minerals and salts from the road. Isn't that something?

Later in the day I took my bicycle and cycled back to see if the butterflies where still having a midsummer feast, drinking and nourishing themselves from the road. They were there. This time I stopped, stretched myself out on the road and watched them for a while.

I notice that I'm beginning to slow down for holidays. What a bliss it is to remember and realise again that when I slow down I start to see the world around me in a different way.