A Light in the Darkness

Just some backstory of this butterfly’s travels. As a very small caterpillar, he emerged last summer from an egg on a fennel plant belonging to Kathryn Bush. But as Kathryn was traveling and traveling and traveling during that time, Kay Egan volunteered to babysit Kathryn’s habitat. As she continued to feed Kathryn’s butterflies, of course more eggs came in with the fennel. Kay continued babysitting and when we needed props for our Engage Norfolk info table in February Kay offered up this habitat full of wintering over chrysalises. I borrowed the habitat and have had it ever since. Engage Norfolk attendees were impressed of course. AND THEN the big emerge this week and I realized I didn’t have much in my yard right now for the Black Swallowtails, so I took it to Donna Van Keuren for release of our single butterfly and continued watchfulness of the other chrysalises.

Tiny caterpillars will emerge from eggs right on cue, but the cats will be slower to go through their life cycle.

This new butterfly will nectar on something, maybe a dandelion (yes, we love dandelions). And it will find a mate, or not; had it been a girl, she would find some parsley or dill to lay her eggs on – there is some in people’s gardens. And sadly a butterfly will die if temps go below 50 degrees but that’s nature. This butterfly is the first generation of 2020.

The great thing about raising butterflies is you get to see the big wide world of how nature works, on a very small scale and up close. 😊

All that said, it does take a village doesn’t it? Whether it is watching over a single butterfly or checking in with family and friends and keeping an eye on your neighbors! Yes you can, even if from a distance!

What about you? Do you have a story to share during our Master Gardener hiatus? Pictures of your garden? What you are doing during this social distancing period. The Germinator Blog would love to publish your story.