Chrysalis

This morning I noticed that a Black Swallowtail caterpillar was on a milkweed plant.  I did not think that milkweed was a food source,  and it seemed to be upside down, so I did some checking.  The little guy was getting ready for metamorphosis.  Here is what he looked like about 11 am today.  You can just see the thread of silk that he has attached to the leaf.

Late this afternoon, I, at first, though he was gone.  But on closer inspection, I found that he has begun making his chrysalis.  I think the caterpillar will stay in this stage somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-12 days.  Some sources say that the green chrysalis is rather rare;  brown is more common.

And in other butterfly news, I am fairly certain that these are the eggs of a Monarch butterfly.  I have compared this picture with verified pictures on websites.  I will be watching them.

Butterfly Waystation

We are now officially certified as a Monarch Butterfly Waystation.  What that means is our garden has the appropriate host plants, as well as food and nectar plants for the Monarchs.  In reality, we  have plants for a wide variety of butterflies.

I have not seen any evidence of Monarchs yet, but we do have the caterpillars of Swallowtails eating the fennel.  It is in the garden for them!

We planted out last round of sweet corn a week ago, and it is beginning to sprout.  We may have our first harvest of Roma tomatoes soon, lots of fruit, but it is still green.

It is a great joy to be able to spend a bit of every day in the garden.  I watch plants emerge and grow daily.  This is allowing me to better

identify seedlings.  I am also able to attack the weeds more quickly.

I am also becoming better acquainted with the birds in this area, and their habits.  The Catbirds, House Wrens, and Carolina Wrens have recently returned.  I have also seen a young Indigo Bunting several times.