It started as a beautiful spring morning and I took the newspaper out onto the deck where I found this newly emerged swallowtail drying and pumping its wings. He or she was outside. I’ve had six chrysalises set aside in the garage and they’ve begun to hatch, but this butterfly was somewhere on the deck, perhaps under a ridge in the flower container that held parsley last summer.
I never tire of seeing this small miracle of nature–the transformation from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. As often as I’ve seen, it still seems a miracle.
I was curious to discover any additional chrysalises I have overlooked so I poked around the yard and discovered this one ensconced between a gate post and the sidewall of the house. This is one of two who found the well-protected location. Another is opposite on the gate post.
Then I just looked around for nectar sources and happened upon this vine in bloom. Someone with garden knowledge can identify it for me. It’s in a neighbor’s yard and I haven’t asked about it. But is adds visual beauty and fragrance to the morning. So I took a photo.
Posted on April 9th, 2009 by larryhol
Filed under: Butterflies
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