A Striking Pollinator

Here’s another beauty I captured in the below photos yesterday on my walk, a female Black Swallowtail butterfly.

There were many busily fluttering about but only this little lady was feeling photogenic, the others, not so much -

She was dining on the nectar of a red clover flower -

Believe it or not, according to the Google machine, the Black Swallowtail is one of the most common and familiar butterflies in eastern and central North America.

I would have guessed it to be the Monarch butterfly. I stand corrected ☺️ 

Parsley As A Host Plant

There is only one reason why I plant parsley in my gardens and it's not to eat or to be used as a garnish.

I plant parsley, as a host plant, to attract the Black Swallowtail caterpillars.

I bought a 4-pack of parsley this spring and planted them in different locations in my gardens.  I check them over every couple of days and yesterday I noticed this beauty hidden nicely and chomping away!

Seems to work every year!

A Welcomed Caterpillar

A Black Swallowtail caterpillar enjoying and dining on a Queen Anne's Lace, a.k.a. and "Uncle Tommy", plant.

Always a treat to come across one of these jewels.

Hoping it finds a safe, protected place to make it's chrysalis, as it's one that will not hatch until next spring.  

If You Build (Plant) It, They Will Come

I planted parsley along side the carrots this season and both did very well.  Outside of the obvious, the hope was to also attract the Black Swallowtail butterfly and as you can see below it was a smashing success!

They were partial to the parsley and devoured it.  We had about 6 to 8 and boy did they grow fast.  Seemed like they doubled in size every day.

Not sure where they crawled off to but hoping they chose a good, safe and protected space to build their chrysalis. 

Butterfly and Echinacia

This stunning Black Swallowtail butterfly was around all weekend long.  Keeping me company as I worked in the yard.  Fluttering from one flower to another and one plant to another.  Hoping to attract more and see other kinds too, as we have plenty of flowers to dine on.