Tsumagurohyomon (Argyreus hyperbius) butterfly (female): Kita-kamakura

The elegant swallowtail butterflies of summer, that used to soar gracefully in the intense sunlight, have already disappeared into the air. 

Now, the butterfly with orange wings marked with black and silver are busily flitting in the autumn sky to search for flower nectar and mating partners. As autumn deepens and winter approaches, butterflies must vanish out of sight secretly.

Butterflies cope with the hardness of cold winter in a variety of ways to survive and leave offspring. Some kinds of butterflies endure harsh winter as larvae or adults by lying in concealment in the shadow to protect themselves from enemies.

There are butterflies which lay eggs before the arrival of winter, and there are butterflies whose larvae become chrysalises before winter and quietly wait for spring in their hiding places to depart from the chilly ground into the warm spring sky.

Tsumagurohyomon (Argyreus hyperbius) butterfly (female): Kaizo-ji

 

Skipper butterfly: Kita-kamakura

 

Hakuunboku (Styrax obassia) flowers and a Papilio protenor butterfly: Engaku-ji

 

Fuyo (Hibiscus mutabilis) flower and swallowtail: Kaizo-ji

In accordance with the constant changing of solar energy caused by the revolution of the earth, the seasons keep rotating ceaselessly and the seasonal spectacles of living things go on transforming moment by moment.

In harmony with the cyclic rhythm of our planet and the universe, all living things are interconnecting and conversing with each other in hidden and subtle ways to livelily live on in these ever-changing seasons.

Komisuji (Neptis sappho) butterfly: Engaku-ji

Mitsumata (Edgeworthia chrysantha) flowers and Akatateha (Vanessa indica) butterfly: Engaku-ji

After awakening from long winter sleep in the hiding place, a small butterfly has begun fluttering about busily to search for sweet nectar in the bright sunlight of spring.

The vivid yellow flowers of Mitsumata are blooming quietly and giving out the scent of nectar to invite insects to their mystic ritual of pollination.

A flower and a butterfly meet each other of their own accord owing to the unknown affinity kept for hundreds of million years, which tells me about a secret story of life continuing unendingly in our universe.

Tsumaguro-Hyoumon (Argyreus hyperbius) butterfly (female): Kita-kamakura

Utsugi (Deutzia crenata) flowers and Komisuji (Neptis sappho) butterfly: Engaku-ji

In the secret grassy garden, where birds are warbling delightedly in the grove, I saw a small butterfly with three-striped black wings gently fluttering around the tiny white flowers to seek the floral nectar they give.

Ageha (Papilio xuthus) butterfly and Higanbana (Lycoris radiata) flowers: Eisho-ji

Like quiet flames burning in the grass, the vivid vermilion flowers of Higanbana are blooming with one accord to silently tell us that autumn has arrived here undoubtedly.

Swallowtail butterflies, which once kept flitting high in the bright summer sky, are flying low to eagerly find scarce floral nectar before they disappear.

Soon these blazing flowers will vanish from sight without being noticed and brilliant autumnal tints of leaves will begin to emerge gradually in the gardens like always.

Higanbana (Lycoris radiata) flowers: Eisho-ji

Aosuji-ageha (blue-triangle) butterfly: Kencho-ji

Like a graceful daydream flitting in the bright sunlight, the blue-striped summer butterfly suddenly appeared from nowhere in the air and alighted on the small white flower before my eyes.

In an instant, it sucked nectar from the flower while beating its wings and then quickly fleeted from one flower to the next for eagerly seeking nectar. Immediately after doing so, it swiftly flied high up and vanished into thin air.

Summer butterflies are beginning to fly around here to let me realize that the season of the dazzling sun has just arrived.

Ruri-tateha (Kaniska canace) butterfly: Engaku-ji

A newly hatched butterfly was resting its blue-striped wings on the stone by the pond.

Aka-tateha (Vanessa indica) butterfly: Kaizo-ji

In the tranquil garden of this humble temple, the beginning of autumn has already caused the light violet flowers of Sion to come into full bloom.

In the lucid sunlight pouring down through the high clouds, these abundant flowers are magnificently shining to compose the momentary splendor of this transient season.

A vivid orange butterfly of autumn has flown away swiftly into the air after alighting on a flower for an instant.

Higan-bana (Lycoris radiata) flowers and Kuro-ageha (Papilio protenor) butterfly: Tokei-ji

In the gardens of Zen, the intenseness of summer is passing away stealthily and the calmness of autumn is coming closer quietly.

In the gardens where the dainty flowers of autumn begin blooming, summer butterflies with worn-out wings, which once flitted high in the dazzling sky, are gently flying low to eagerly search for the remaining floral nectar.

Without our noticing, such an exquisite butterfly of summer will soon disappear from view after devotedly fulfilling its own mission in life.

Sujiguro-sirocho (Pieris melete) butterfly: Kita-kamakura

Tumagurohyomon butterfly: Kaizo-ji

The gardens of Zen have just begun to acquire the brilliant colors of early autumn.

A vivid orange butterfly with leopard's spots is flitting from flower to flower in a hurried manner to prepare for her best season of life.

The pale purple of Sion (Aster tataricus) flowers is magically in harmony with the radiant color of this autumn butterfly.

A butterfly visits the finest flower which perfectly befits itself and a flower invites the butterfly which is worthy of its beauty and color.

In a stealthy way, the nature of our universe is manifesting itself in the scenery of the seasons passing away fleetly.

Kuroageha (Papilio protenor) butterfly: Kita-kamakura

In a split second, a black butterfly silently quivered above the ruby-red flowers of Red Horse-chestnut to seek nectar.

In the fragrant air and golden sunlight of May, a flower invites a butterfly to fill its role of life and a butterfly visits a flower to collect nectar for its breeding and existence.

In the calm stream of the changing seasons, such a precious and irreplaceable moment of life is constantly reiterating in hushed silence in front of my eyes.

Japanese Oak Silkmoth: Engaku-ji

A beautiful silk-moth is tightly clinging to the stone image of Nyoi-rin-kannon as if to ask for teachings and protection from this deity of mercy.

"Nyoi" stands for the precious orb which brings wisdom and happiness and "Rin" means the chakra which smashes any earthly desire. Nyoi-rin-kannon hold these divine belongings to bring salvation for all living things.

A Kiageha (Papilio machaon）butterfly and HIganbana (Lycoris radiata) flowers in Tokei-ji