Raising Butterflies

A few days ago Gail, from Clay and Limestone, asked if I could give the details about bringing the caterpillars inside. I am more than happy to share this information, especially if it encourages more people to have this awesome experience.

You can see the container I use in the picture above. It really isn't tall enough when using the fennel, but it still worked. I purchased this at Walmart, but they should be available at any pet store.

I collect the caterpillars as soon as I spot them, (usually the first instar). This year I even started with eggs. Whatever plant I find them on, (parsley or fennel), that is the plant I keep available for them to eat. This year they liked the fennel best, (I only spotted one caterpillar on the parsley all summer). I snip the plant with the caterpillar on it and bring it inside. I have a really small single stem vase that I use, (large openings can cause the caterpillars to drown if they fall in). I place the host plant with the caterpillar on it in the vase. Every couple of days I wash the vase, refill it with water and replenish the food. I place the stem with the caterpillar on it back into the vase. It doesn't take long for it to crawl to the fresh food. I usually take this opportunity to clean out the container too. Caterpillars are prolific poopers and they make quite a mess. Right about the time you think they are too messy and too much trouble is about the time they are getting ready to become a chrysalis, so don't give up, the worst part is almost over.

I had to leave the top of the container open a few times because the fennel was too tall, one day the caterpillar was very restless and I found it crawling on the microwave. I knew it was looking for something to attach to. I picked it up and placed it back on the fennel, closed the lid, and went outside to collect a few small twigs to place in the container. Within minutes it found its way to the stick. Usually I don't wait that long before placing twigs in the container. The caterpillars need something firm to attach too, usually it is a stick, however this year one of them attached to the top of the container.

This is the easy part. Once in the chrysalis stage there is nothing to do but wait for the butterfly to emerge. For me it usually takes anywhere from ten days to several weeks for this to happen. I try to keep the container in a place where I can check it often, (usually the kitchen). As soon as the butterfly emerges and the wings dry a bit, I take it outside and place it on a flower that is popular with the black swallowtails. Of course there is usually a photo session involved.

That is all there is to it. So easy to do and the experience is priceless.

The Magnificent Metamorphosis

For several years now I've planted parsley for the sole purpose of attracting the black swallowtail butterfly to my gardens. This year I added fennel which they seemed to prefer over the parsley.

I think the birds must be eating the caterpillars because I see them for a couple of days and then they are gone. It is alarming to me the odds these creatures face. I guess that is part of the reason I am in awe whenever I see a butterfly in my garden.

Each year I bring a few into the house to watch this amazing metamorphosis up close.

I was beginning to wonder if these two were going to emerge this summer.

It is so fascinating to me that the chrysalis can be different colors.

After they emerge from the chrysalis, I remove them from the container, get a few pictures, and let them go. Amazing!

September Garden Blogger Bloom Day

The most beautiful flowers here at Robin's Nesting Place, during the month of September, are the ones adorned by the butterflies. This little beauty is on the lantana. I have several different colors of lantana but the pink has always been my favorite and is also the best performer for me.



As the blooms fade on the butterfly bush, the mums take over and dominate the show.



I can't remember if this cosmos is "Picotee" or "Candy Stripe" but I have really enjoyed it. I plan to collect the seeds and hopefully grow more of it next year.

This is one of the Blanketflower that was wintersown. It really hasn't done very well this year but hopefully next year it will be larger and have more blooms.

I have enjoyed the combination of Russian sage, lambs ear and dusty miller again this year. The carpet rose and the knockout roses are still blooming. As is the Russian sage. For some reason, the 'May Night' salvia has had a dismal year. Last year it was beautiful all summer long, this year they all looked as though they were diseased. I wonder if it is due to the wet spring we had.


I love this color of zinnia!

I have several groupings of zinnias around the back yard. Some did well and others were a flop. I need to do a zinnia post to remind myself of what not to sow next summer.

Several weeks ago the 'Purple Wave' petunias were looking pretty bad. I cut them all the way down to about an inch or two and they quickly grew back. I'll definitely grow these from seed again. There is nothing easier to grow from seed that gives a great display of color all spring and summer long than the wave petunia.

The front flower bed has filled out nicely with the impatiens. The coleus seeds from the front porch planters must have blown into the bed because now I have a lot of little coleus growing with the impatiens.

I have quite a few grasses and they are all in bloom right now. I have two of these near the kitchen window and I love when the sun is shining on them, the feathery plumes just glisten in the sunlight.

Here is the list of what is blooming:

Gerbera Daisies
Mums
Coleus
Begonias
Purple Wave Petunia

Salvia
Impatiens
Zinnia

Cosmos

Verbena bonariensis

Carpet Rose
Knockout roses

Lantana

Russian Sage

Lavender

Grasses
Superbells

Lantana

Anise Hyssop 'Golden Jubilee'

Dianthus

Spirea

Black-eyed Susans
Mallow
Blanket Flower
Malva
Butterfly bush

Hopefully things will settle down for me and I'll be on time for next months Garden Blogger Bloom Day, hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens.

Late Summer Blooms, Bunnies and Bugs

It is definitely beginning to feel like autumn. The leaves are already beginning to turn on some of the maple trees.

It is so nice to have the windows open and the fresh air coming in. I love this time of year! The cosmos and zinnias are beautiful...

painted lady butterflies are all over the verbena.

Of course, not everything is wonderful; there are late summer pest too. Just like last year, the praying mantis are trying to catch the hummingbirds. I knocked this one off the feeder three times. Each time he climbed back into position, and would swipe at the hummingbirds while they drank. Thankfully they were quicker than the mantis.

I'm seeing a lot of grasshoppers too.

While watching the butterflies and hummingbirds, I saw this little rabbit next to the house in the butterfly garden. It was so small and so cute. I wish they weren't so destructive. I sure hope it doesn't take up residence here this winter and eat the rest of my burning bush. They feasted off them all winter and are still working on the smallest one. I definitely need to somehow cover them this winter.

I love zinnias...

especially close up! They are so interesting and beautiful!

Eating out of My Hands

From ROBIN'S NESTING PLACE

I cleaned and refilled my three hummingbird feeders this morning. As I stepped on the patio with the third feeder I decided to stand there for a few minutes just to see if by chance a hummingbird would drink from the feeder as I held it. Sure enough, within seconds I had a brave hummingbird right in my face checking me out. I could feel the breeze on my face from the wings as it hovered a few inches away from my eyes. I guess I passed the test because it lit right on my feeder as I held it and drank the fresh nectar.

What a thrill! I had read that they would do this but had never been successful the few times before when I tried. I was so excited that I nearly cried with joy at this awesome pleasure.

I stayed on the patio and watched them for about an hour. They have obviously gotten used to me, because I was standing right in front of the smallest feeder and they still came.

Before I went back inside, I wanted to try one more time to see if I could get them to eat from my hands and this time I wanted to get a picture of it. I put the camera strap around my neck, flipped up the LCD screen so I could see, held out the feeder, and waited, trying not to move a muscle. They were zipping all around me fighting over their turf. I stood there breathless just knowing any second one of them would light on it, then my camera battery went dead. So frustrating.

Oh well, maybe tomorrow they will drink from me again and I can capture the moment with a picture.

I never tire of seeing these amazing creatures. They are so fascinating!