This is Better

Butterfly Days

We have not had very many butterflies visit this summer. Not really sure what the deal is, but they just didn't come.

There had not been a single Gulf frittilary caterpillar on the passion vine. I have seen very few adults. Today the beauty in the above picture showed up. Isn't she pretty. She did lay a few eggs on the vines, but I don't know if they will have enough time before it gets too cold for caterpillars.

Most summers we watch dozens of black swallowtail caterpillars eat my dill, crysalize (look I made up a verb), and come back to visit the zinnia. This year only one batch ate the fennel in the front flower bed. We had a black swallowtail visit today. I didn't see any egg laying. This is a good thing, because the dill is tiny and there would not be enough food.

Remember this from a couple of days ago.

It now looks like this. I planted it with carrots. Next week I will buy some leek seeds and add a few right down the middle. Should be an interesting looking veggie patch.

What are you growing this fall?