This afternoon, walking the dog before a storm, we came across this yellow tiger swallowtail, perfectly still in the grass. He was so still that the world seemed to still around him – even my dog heeled and sat without me asking.

Late in the summer we often have clouds of monarchs in the garden, lighting quickly on the purple coneflowers and black eyed Susans and flying around again. But today this swallowtail was at rest.

It’s the kind of day in Minnesota when we keep one eye on the weather – it’s hot and humid and severe storms are predicted. There’s a wind advisory. Without a doubt, soon the world around us will be in motion. But for a moment, inspired by the tiger swallowtail, we remembered to be still.