August Beauty

August came in quietly. I decided to start the month with something simple: weeding the front yard. Hands in the soil, head full of thoughts.

While at it, a flash of orange and black fluttered past me and landed right on a cocoyam leaf covered in raindrops. It's been raining here all through the week, hence the raindrops.

Weeding paused. I grabbed my phone and
took some snapshots of the butterfly, sitting there like it had been waiting. Captivating.

And then it moved to the this weed. Another snapshot.

The name turned out to be *Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui, also called Cosmopolitan or Thistle Butterfly

Vanessa cardui is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world. You'll find find them in gardens, fields, and green areas — they love sunny spots and flowers.

And they’re known for being strong migrants and a sign of good weather and season change.

So this is what August brought me. 😅 Yeah. I didn’t go looking for beauty that day. I was just trying to keep my hands dirty. Lol. But beauty found me anyway.

Maybe that’s what August is supposed to be about. Not forcing joy, but noticing it when it lands.

If you’re in a heavy season too, I hope something small finds you today - a butterfly, a raindrop, a moment of peace. Anything beautiful.

Author's Photos