Gardens are always a source of delight to me, ever more so when there is serendipitous nexus with nature. Discovering this mantis on the wall near the garden offered what seemed like an omen.

OMEN: An event regarded as a portent of good or evil.

Being this creamy color indicates the insect has just molted, which they might do up to 10 times in their average life span of 1 year.

Given that this year has been one of transition and reorientation, I’m taking it as an homage to change and transition, evoking the literal “molting” of a recent move and the psychic “molting” of reorienting more of my attention towards my avocation of helping organizations build opportunities for people to engage with nature.

How does it inspire you?

More from National Geographic on the praying mantis.