Choice Morsels

 Actually getting this written on Wednesday this week! Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar on Parsley: It's not been a good year for butterfly caterpillars over-all. I've seen numerous eggs and tiny infant caterpillars, only to find them completely gone. I think wasps or spiders or something pick them them. But I managed to save this one---I covered the container with fine netting to keep away insect predators.  He or she is full size now, so I removed the netting today. Soon he'll wish to depart to cocoon and I didn't want the net to interfere. I love the striped and spotted pattern. A Flower Mix Out Front: I thought the Purple Shamrock leaves mingled with the Dusty Miller, plus a Shamrock flower and the orange buds from the Hen & Chicks was really pretty.  The Dusty Miller and Shamrocks surround a strawberry terra cotta pot of Hen & Chicks.

Today's Garden Pic is one of my small guests enjoying my Parsley! This is one of 5 Black Swallowtail Caterpillars I currently have living in my herb container gardens. This one was sitting slightly upright, resting when I took the photo. Like all babies, all they do is just eat, sleep & poop. This one, pictured, was the oldest and matured first. When I saw it running along the edge of the pot yesterday, I knew it was ready to find a location to cocoon, so I moved it to my Gardenia shrub.  It selected a spot there and is currently it's on it's way to becoming a butterfly. Knowing where they are is the secret to getting a really great photo, since they're still with their wings spread open while still fresh. Two more are nearing maturity. I had to move them to other Parsley because the one in the photo is completely devoured. (Though, it will grow back! Parsley loves to be cut!) One single large Parsley plant can host about 2 caterpillars to maturit...