Metamorphosis of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly

One of my favorite things is to talk Gardening Sunday morning at the Farmers Market. People frequently ask about butterfly gardens , my best advice to them is keep it simple; Fennel, Dill assorted garden flowers and Spring time = Butterflies. This will not attract Monarch Butterflies but it will attract Black Swallowtails . Monarch’s are attracted to milk weed that is toxic to mammals, so in the interest of safety don’t plant milk weed. A few weeks ago we began finding Caterpillars in the Fennel and Dill , Chef Paula started taking them home in pickle jars . Paula and her friend Connie Whelahan have been raising Butterflies and setting them free

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