I grew up on a livestock farm in the green lush area of Niagara Peninsula, Canada. In 1976 my future husband Dave and I finished college. I a moved to Toronto for work and Dave moved to Sudbury for work, 6 hours north of our hometowns. A year later we were married I followed him there. The landscape was huge rocks instead of large trees and grasses. In the 1800’s logging and mining raped and pillage nature, exposing the rocks. In the late 1970s, the government and mining companies did a massive tree planting project, restoring the land. For a gardener, this warms my heart. When we bought our first home I designed and planted my first flower garden.

Thirty-three years later our daughters were married and had moved away and Dave retired. It was time to move further south, closer to our cottage and away from the bitter cold dry winters of -30c to -40c or lower. Minus 40 is the same temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius. At that temperature who cares what scale you read, it’s freezing cold. My flower beds prefer a milder temperature and grow quicker here too.

Our new house had very little landscaping. I got back to my farming roots and planted gardens and lawns. One of the flowering shrubs I planted has grown into a huge plant 5 feet tall and wide. In mid-August, it is loaded with pink flowers. When the flowers come out butterflies, mostly monarchs, swarm to it for the nectar. I could have done housework today, instead I went outside and took several pictures of these beautiful creatures. I often decorate my hand-crafted pottery with monarch butterflies. Now I have many pictures for reference for my pottery.

I purchased carved wooden stamps including a butterfly, which I used to make these hand-painted butterfly ornaments. I enjoyed painting details on them. They are sold on my Etsy site. https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheButlersPottery?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=23105351 I will definable include butterflies for future pottery projects.

• Etsy