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Patrick's avatar

Congratulations on the Globe story.

And I feel you deer fly pain

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Often on the tops of my hands!

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Linda Berger's avatar

“Butterflies like these are now burning in the fires of Quebec and elsewhere across Canada. Although some of them might escape the flames, plants of course have no such recourse. “ You bring me to tears Mr. Pfeiffer...

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

So kind of you, Linda. Thanks. Sending you and Nicola my best!

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Sue Cloutier's avatar

You did it again. Marvelous. Thank you for sharing.

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Thanks, Sue. We did also have a nice smattering of moths records (which I haven't yet gotten into iNaturalist).

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David E. Perry's avatar

This was a full meal.

Meat and two veg.

Something salty, something starchy, something rich, something spicy, something cool, something sweet.

The butterflies, the wildflowers, the local, native anthropology, the current events, the climate science, the contemplations of a wise man, the tip of the hat to Bill McKibben.

I'm grateful. I'm full. And maybe just a little bit smarter...

Thank you.

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Thanks, David. That means a lot to me coming from you. You, sir, are an inspiration to me.

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Monique's avatar

Love reading anything you write!

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Oh, gosh -- so kind of you to say that, Monique. Writing is hard, but most of the time I love doing it, even if I may not always love what I write (which, of course, is why I also love revising my work). 😉

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Bantering Ram's avatar

Congratulations on the feature in The Boston Globe!

Now for something utterly lazy and useless. It's one of my many pet beliefs that that they were originally flutterbys before some tongue-twisted person or persons messed up and went about shouting butterfly every time they saw one. There is a possibility that this is indeed true as also that I'm of a fairly large population that thinks this too.

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Thanks! There is indeed a possibility that the flutterby-butterfly hypothesis is true. I haven't looked into it in years, but I've always been mystified that this is an etymology not yet solved!

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Bantering Ram's avatar

I find naming quite interesting, or rather, amusing for the most part :-) One recent example is of the snake genus Aspidura which is endemic to Sri Lanka. Rough-sided Snakes they are in the Common Tongue but the two species that I came across didn't feel rough at all. I suspect it's the pattern and visual texture that gives them the name. But I will admit that my experience and understanding of the herpetology is very limited.

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Diane Porter's avatar

Your story UNDER the headline about Putin is, well, the mind boogies. And while it's not exactly a consolation to find a writer poised on the cusp of beauty and despair, it is a tonic for loneliness. Anyway, thanks for the gorgeous photo of fresh moth eggs.

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Those moth eggs are indeed like pearls. Thanks for reading, Diane.

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Rita Pitkin's avatar

Once again, thank you for your beautiful words Bryan. Always appreciated.

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Thanks, Rita.

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Kate's avatar

I was searching for butterflies the other day, wading through tall grass along the side of the road. A man pulled up in his van eyeing me suspiciously. "What are you doing?"

"I'm looking for butterflies." I replied. A huge smile crossed his face. "I heard some guy found one after 25 years looking." He rolled up his window and drove off still smiling.

Thanks Bryan.

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Bryan Pfeiffer's avatar

Ha! What kind of idiot would spend two decades looking for a butterfly! 🤣 Oops, I guess that would be me!

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Jason Anthony's avatar

Wonderful piece, Bryan. I've also been thinking of what those smoke particles once were: the lives, the relationships, the landscapes. Glad you took the time to write about it.

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