Key Takeaway: A garden routine, like a market routine, helps us notice the small changes that can lead to bigger developments
More Detail: I know from experience that this time of year is when the black swallowtail caterpillars start to appear. It wasn’t much of a surprise when I found a few on the dill earlier this week. I’ve got those in a jar inside where I can observe their growth and watch as the complete the cycle from larva to butterfly. It’s a fascinating process.
I have a watering routine in the garden that helps me see small changes – like the caterpillars I found earlier this week, or the new one I found this morning or yesterday when I saw an egg being deposited on a dill plant.
Being in a position to observe these developments and being able to take advantage of the opportunities they provide comes from being familiar with the environment and methodically reviewing it on a regular basis.
Not all small changes lead to big changes – but every big change begins as a small change. If we want to get the most out of the garden, even if it is just the chance to watch the miraculous metamorphosis that is a butterfly’s life cycle, we need to be engaged.
We don’t always need to take action, but active observation is a critical part of the process.
In the garden.
And in our portfolios.
p.s. Though not easily observed, there is actually more than one caterpillar in the picture.
