Thursday, July 21, 2022

Black Swallowtails

 If you follow my blog, you know I raise Black Swallowtail Butterflies.
Attracted to the dill I plant in my garden, they lay their eggs on the dill and the normal cycle begins.
This summer has been a bit of a bust.
I have seen eggs on the dill, watched them turn into caterpillars, then nothing.
And if that were not bad enough, my dill keeps dying...I have planted additional dill and that dies.
Tuesday, I watched these Black Swallowtails lay eggs on my dill, I am hoping for some caterpillars.







I still have 10 chrysalis in netted cages in the garage from last year that have yet to emerge.
My friend Liz, who also raises butterflies, says they can skip a season and emerge next summer.

- we delight in the beauty of the butterfly, 
but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty -

14 comments:

Sandi said...

So beautiful!

Changes in the wind said...

Great pictures

Ruth S said...

I have only one butterfly in my yard, a monarch. Nature is changing.

Farm Girl said...

So pretty. I have had years like that with dill. I can never figure out why some years it grows like a weed, and then the next year, I can barely get it to grow. I do hope you get some caterpillars.

Rian said...

Debbie, my first Black Swallowtail emerged today! She's beautiful... and she was in Chrysalis about 2 weeks. I put a pic on my blog. There are 5 more here that should follow in the next week or so.

BTW, my dill died too... imagine the heat is too much. But my parsley is coming back.

Jim and Barb's Adventures said...

So interesting! Hard to believe they can skip a season.

Ruth Hiebert said...

These are so pretty. I sure hope you get to raise many more.

DeniseinVA said...

Gorgeous photos and I hope you get some butterflies and your dill thrives. I didn't know that about the butterfly remaining in its chrysalis for another season. I enjoy learning these things. Thanks Debbie :)

The Furry Gnome said...

Every year is different!

Soma @ InkTorrents.com said...

I am sorry to hear that. Hopefully the weather and conditions will cooperate soon. They are so beautiful. You never cease to amaze me, Debbie! I am fascinated by your raising butterflies.

-Soma

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I hope you see more caterpillars and butterflies. Your Swallowtail photos are beautiful, a delight to see. Take care, have a happy day and a great weekend!

Conniecrafter said...

Beautiful pics, I sure hope that you have better luck soon. I know my pepper plants did not do well at all this year, not really sure why. I wonder if the changes in temperature have anything to do with it, I know it has been a scorcher down here this summer.

Lowcarb team member said...

Beautiful to see, lovely photographs...

All the best Jan

Kay said...

Wow! Awesome photos, Debbie. These swallowtails are so gorgeous. I feel sad that we hardly see any monarchs in Hawaii. There were so many when we were growing up.