This little butterfly was raised as a caterpillar and pupated in my flat. She emerged from her chrysalis, inflated and dried her new wings and took a brief flight around my kitchen.
Now she is standing on the edge of a precipice. She has never felt the breeze on her wings before. You can see the exact moment when she understands everything and takes control of the rest of her life. It is wonderful.
She has a long life ahead of her. this summer is all for her, she will drink sweet nectar from the flowers and spend long summer days basking in the sun. When winter comes she will find a sheltered place and hibernate, maybe waking once or twice on very warm days. In the spring time, next year she will awaken and set about finding a mate and creating the next generation of Small Tortoiseshells.
Enjoy the summer sun.
A Tramp in the Woods 