butterflies

I bought a Milkweed plant at last spring’s Master Gardener Seminar plant sale to try out. The variety I bought is called “Family Jewels,” I’m not sure why, but it has pretty little white flowers which might be interpreted differently if I was a guy, but I digress….

I put the plant in a tub initially, but later replanted it out front, by the sidewalk. It got a bit leggy, but it was a substantial plant and finally the caterpillars showed up. They were very active and really ate with gusto. They were very small at first but, within two weeks, they grew to about 1 1/2 inches long with beautiful markings and black antennae.

After the flowers finished blooming, these puffballs formed and the largest one grew to two inches across.

One morning last week I went out to look at the plant and check on the caterpillars and this is what I found. Milkweed demolished, puffballs had opened up and caterpillars are nowhere to be found. I hope they have found a hiding spot in the garden and will emerge as butterflies eventually.

Sad, sad Milkweed but the caterpillars were well fed!

In the meantime, I found this chrysalis under a sage leaf and have determined that it is a Black Swallowtail pupa.

I think I’ll go out and neaten up the Milkweed with a trim. It certainly can’t hurt!!!

Tagged as: butterflies, chrysalis, milkweed, monarchs, swallowtails

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