Today while out picking tomatoes for a yummy sandwich to be served at lunch, I spotted this rough looking butterfly. I had seen this critter flying around my garden early this week. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera in hand so I could share it on the Garden Network with hopes of finding out what type of butterfly it was.
Early in the month I had spotted over a dozen of these caterpillars hanging out in my Mammoth Dill raised bed I have planted over near the greenhouse. I couldn't help but wonder where these little guys were coming from. In the past years I have never seen so many of these critters.
As I moved in closer for a look with my lens I bumped a branch of the dill that wiggled the critter and he stuck his tongue out at me!
( Image Below )
As he nibbles away I can't help but wonder if this is the baby of that interesting butterfly I saw earlier in the garden. Let me know if you have an idea!
You’ve got swallowtail caterpillars and butterflies abounding in your dill! YAY for you!!!!! I have the same kind in my fennel. Swallowtail caterpillars only eat a diet of parsley, dill and/or fennel so it’s really special that you’ve got them.
I need to grow some of this Fennel next year. NOT SURE what you cook with that? Thanks for the info Cindy!
Beautiful Bren there are no other words : )
No clue but a wonderful post, dear Bren.
Wow, gorgeous creatures! Those catepillars are pretty. We have scary looking ones that are brown with spikes!
Whoa, whoa, get out the way with that good infotrmaoin.
Beautiful photos! I love swallowtails and have been growing fennel and dill just for them (though I do love dill for myself, too).
Gorgeous photos, Bren!
Its’ so good to be home! Thanks for noticing my work.
What beautiful pictures, Bree! Lucky you with the Swallowtails in your garden. I did some research because I love insects (except spiders) and that caterpillar doesn’t match the beautiful butterfly. The butterfly is a Tiger Swallowtail and the caterpillar is a Black Swallowtail, which does love celery, dill and parsley and the butterfly has black wings. The Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar is extremely camouflagued (and not that pretty), but feeds on trees, particularly cherry, willow and ash. Hope this helps! It was fine to find the facts for myself. Fennel is great thinly sliced in salads or this is a great recipe for it: http://bit.ly/buz5zV
See you soon at IGC!!
My peppers are just starting to come on Danielle so I will give that yummy salad recipe a try soon! Thanks for stopping by and see you next week in Chicago!