There’s a certain kind of magic that happens when your imagination takes flight—especially when it’s riding on the tiny wings of a ladybug named Lily.

This week, I had the distinct honor (and delight!) of sitting down for a garden-side interview with the star of our newest GreenPrints StoryBook: The Adventures of Ladybug Lily: Discovering Friendship, Purpose, and Joy. And let me tell you, for someone who measures in millimeters, Lily has a mighty big heart—and a lot to say about life, growth, and flying toward your purpose.

“Tell me, Lily,” I began, brushing a speck of soil off my notepad as she landed gracefully on the tip of my pen, “how does it feel to be the hero of your own story?”

Lily giggled—a delicate, breezy sound like wind brushing through milkweed. “Oh Don, I never planned to be a hero. I just followed my wings—and my curiosity. The garden has a way of calling to you, doesn’t it?”

Indeed, it does. And that call became the seed of a story that bloomed from my imagination during a quiet afternoon walk in the backyard. As a child, I often dreamt of flying. I still remember those dreams vividly: soaring above rooftops, ducking through clouds, and gliding on the wind like a kite without a string. Creating Lily gave me a chance to fly again—this time with six legs, spotted wings, and a knack for adventure.

“I was born under a leaf,” Lily reminded me sweetly. “But your imagination helped me take off.”

That’s the truth of it. Lily was born in the garden, but she sprang to life in the pages of my notebook, and it’s been an absolute joy shaping her story together. She helped me remember that being small doesn’t mean being powerless—and that the tiniest of us can have the most important jobs. Pollination. Pest patrol. Pushing past fear. Making friends with caterpillars. Facing birds (gulp!) and finding meaning in service to the greater good.

“Were you ever scared, Lily?” I asked.

She paused, antennae twitching. “Plenty of times. But courage, I learned, is just fear with wings.”

That line alone is reason enough to spend an afternoon with her.

The beautiful part of this project is how it’s truly been a collaboration—not just between Lily and me, but also with the wildly talented illustrator and audio producer of the book, Christy Page. Her artwork brings every blossom and beetle to life, and her narration? It gives Lily a voice so real, you’d swear she was whispering in your ear on your next nature walk.

So, dear readers, I invite you to flutter through the garden alongside Lily. Explore the meadows and meet her friends. Laugh, learn, and maybe—just maybe—remember what it felt like to believe you could fly.

Click on the link right here to be instantly transported to the Table of Contents for The Adventures of Ladybug Lily—a lovingly illustrated, joyfully narrated storybook that celebrates the beauty of nature, the importance of purpose, and the wisdom we gather when we pause long enough to listen to the smallest voices in the garden.

Go ahead—spread your wings and enjoy the journey.