HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
You never know what you'll see and touch at the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
If you go into the "Butterfly House," you are guaranteed a close encounter with one thing - butterflies. Thousands of butterflies!
They come in all colors and sizes, but if you look closely, you'll find a few butterflies that are a bit out of the ordinary - inside the butterfly house and out.
These butterflies are 5-and-a-half feet tall, they don't fly, and they share stories without saying a word.
"Our help sometimes comes from heavenly sources and sometimes it comes from earthly sources," said artists S. Renee Prasil.
That is the message her butterfly brings to the garden. It is one of 35 hand-crafted butterflies that make up the "Green Things and Butterfly Wings" exhibit. Prasil's butterfly is called "A Wing and a Prayer".
"I am so very proud of him," said Prasil.
Through the brilliant colors of blues, reds and greens, Prasil used a paint brush to share her personal story, the story of a mom who is proud of her military son- her only son- who is on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Corporal Alexander Prasil is just 21-years-old.
"I am very thankful for all the ones who have helped serve, protect me as an individual, help our community, help our nation," said Prasil.
Another butterfly is painted in black and white, with a splash of pink. It, too, is a symbol of gratefulness but also grief.
"I'm not that artistic but I think I can do this," said artist Kathy Elliott.
Elliott named her special work of art "And we'll teach them to fly".
Her youngest daughter Amie, who loved zebra prints and bright colors, had dreams of being an elementary school teacher. She told her parents she wanted to teach her students how to fly. However, in November 2009, the flight of the bubbly 18-year-old University of Montevallo freshman was cut short.
"She was out with some friend. It was right before Thanksgiving break, and they were going out to dinner before they all went home for Thanksgiving break, and a woman that was driving under the influence of drugs, hit their car, and Amie did not survive. She was killed," said Elliott.
These are the types of stories these oversized butterflies carry on their wings, stories of honor, grief, renewal and hope.
These stories are ones that will make you appreciate the sight of these colorful insects - big or small- just a little bit more.
The "Green Things and Butterfly Wings" exhibit runs through the end of August at the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
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