Last September I found two caterpillars munching on the anise stems in the garden. I put them both into my butterfly cage and fed them fresh greens daily.
Within three days they went into the chrysalis stage. I was so concerned that they would not hatch before the weather turned cold.
Well, they never hatch and one turned tan and the other stayed green. I was unsure if that one had died since it looked different from the green one.
I decided to put them in the garage for the winter months thinking perhaps they were hibernating. At least that was what I was hoping.
I put the cage outside on the porch at the end of April and looked every day for signs of life. As I was having my coffee one morning I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I was so surprised to see that the brown chrysalis hatched.
I thought those caterpillars were yellow swallowtails because I saw them flying about the gardens all summer, but apparently not. This one is a male Eastern Black Swallowtail.
I released him onto one of the hanging baskets to continue drying and strengthening its wings. After an hour on the flowers, he flew off.
I was so happy that I had kept them over the winter and now was hopeful that the green chrysalis would hatch too.
Sure enough, three days later the second male emerged. Total success!
When I opened the cover on the cage he became very anxious. I put him on my finger to place him in the flower basket. The winds were strong that morning and he fell onto the sidewalk.
I had to pick him up and place him into the Boston Fern next to the lounge chair where there was no wind. He stayed in the plant for a few hours.
When I came outside after lunch he had flown off. I am glad there are enough nectar sources for them with all the trees and flowers in bloom. I am looking forward to seeing them in the gardens this summer.
I planted lots of fennel and dill just in case they stay around and find a mate. I will be watching closely and hopefully get to raise their offspring just like I do with the Monarch butterflies every summer.
Until next time, this is Sunscape
Sun. Scape. Ing Your Day
