The Pampered Pillars

I have neglected to inform you all, because of fear that my ruthless neighbors might again create the demise of my lovely little caterpillars. However, after a second visit from Mrs. Black Swallowtail Butterfly!!! There are 4 new pillars! They began at five, however Wilber, the smallest did not make it, and we were sorry to see him pass on. His four brothers and sisters, have flourished though, and for that I am grateful. The plant seems to be doing quite well under the duress of keeping the four little bodies alive... or not so little!

In one of these, the tiny little fellow actually reared his hilarious yellow horns at me! It was the intention however, since they are quite amusing when they pretend they are vicious, bobbing their heads to and fro like tiny snakes. It is enjoyable to watch and mom spent some time tonight telling the pillars to stop pooing on the table in the kitchen because she's constantly cleaning it up. Looks like pepper grains, but still, funny hearing her banter with caterpillars. Should be doing some work in the garden tomorrow, check on the strange melons and trim the front hedges as well as taking some new pictures so you guys can see the self cultivated flowers. Until then, enjoy the little guys.

A Tragic Day

I have sad news for all who read this, but more over, a reason I haven't updated in quite a few days, though there has been good news here and there. I have had the dishonor, of knowing nothing about what happened, but to my great dismay. As of a few days ago, we were robbed of our caterpillars. I can't be sure of what happened in the long run, since we won't know if it was someone, some animal, or the weather, that stole our babies from us. All I know is that from Theodore to the brand new less than a pink sized babies, that we are caterpillarless. They're gone. Its been a sad couple of days, nothing more than the circle of life I know, but sometimes it just kind of depresses after having watched them grow. Minorly good news however, is that my mother, the great eye spotter that she is. Has made it clear to me, that as of yesterday, she saw another swallowtail butterfly, hovering about our Parsley. Hopefully, we'll have a new bunch of babies soon.

The good news?

Sunflowers are opening!! More to come later on.

Rockin' Robin

Just a picture update of our garden' progress. No blooms on the sunflowers yet... The birds wanted to show their love, and waiting patiently for the seeds, so inside of beautiful blooms, I have birds! There were a couple families out there today loving each other. It was really kind of adorable, just sitting with the kitchen door open and listening to them. Such beautiful little songs they have for us. The doves were there yesterday, four couples of them, nestled in the bark. Mik and I were listening to them as well. So sweet when my honey asked if he had heard an owl. They get often mistaken for each other. He didn't seem all that surprised though. I love doves.

 We're patiently waiting for the garden lately. I want so badly for those things to bloom, but I just can't wait. Its seeing all my favorite flowers growing, and easily these sunflowers are growing on the north side of seven feet tall! Still nothing. I will await them longer still, but I can't give up hope. I just want them to get there with their tiny little buds. They'll get there. Our birdies and I will continue to encourage them!

Meanwhile, the caterpillar eggs from our friendly little butterfly has hatched. This one will make you all smile. These are our stages of caterpillar! 1-3. The next stage is a cocoon! Lets go Pillars! And in addition, some of our porch garden pictures.

Stage 1: There are several of these guys on the plant varying in size. These are the most tiny. Starting from that size, to about a quarter of the tip of my finger. Forefinger, not thumb. Sadly, Simon was eaten by a bird, so this leaves only the new babies at this size, since Alvin has moved on too.....

Stage 2: ALVIN! His first day of Stage two, and his little puttum feets! Munch away little guy! You have to catch up to Theodore, who has moved on to....

Stage 3: The Big Daddy

Bigger everyday! We're rooting for you pillar!

And for a finisher! Our garden as of late.

 Grow, grow little garden

Year of the Insect

 

Good news! Theodore, the caterpillar, has moved on already! From stage one, he now enters stage TWO! I can't believe my little guy is so grown up. His brothers are still smaller, and haven't yet moved on, but as you can see, our friend just changed. His stage one skins are still on the parsley beside him. Still, before moving on to the updating of the Genoa garden, I thought I would enjoy some delicious orange chicken and tell you all about Theodore's progress!

 He's been doing really well clearly. Getting all gigantic and learning to eat as much food as caterpillarly possible. Its just that there are three of them, and I am increasingly concerned that my single little parsley plant won't be enough to feed all these growing babies. Oh well, I will continue to monitor him! Maybe tomorrow I'll use a a ruler to see just what size he's measuring now, but since he's the biggest and never stops eating we decided he was only fitting to be named Theodore.

NOW! Moving on to the Genoa garden. I told you it was colorful, but its pretty awesome. Be prepared to be wowed with, purple speedwell, geraniums, and tall stocky sunflowers. Soooooo exciting! The idea, is that tomorrow I will clean up the front of little, if the mosquitoes are too active, and that means that there will be a front to work with again. It was so hot over the last few weeks that I could barely take the kids out for longer than a half an hour. Here's hoping the tempt stays settled below 90.

One of the six replanted Dill. They planted themselves this year without any help of mine. So cool. And the only yellow that has yet to rear its head in our garden. Jonathan and Sarah love the dill plants, because they attract butterflies. Which, considering the above, I'm getting quite the laugh out of. We never anticipated so many butterflies this year, but it turns out we planted all the right things. Anything in the parsley family.

 And then there are the silver mound bushes. Another perennial that flourished this year, in a way no one ever expected. These are Mik's favorites, and I have to say, I agree wholeheartedly that they were a great choice for our happy little spot in the backyard. So soft.

 These are the speedwell of course. And the reasoning behind the year of the insect? Check out the plant on the right.... Yet another caterpillar. Or an inch worm. I can't quite tell.

 GERANIUMS!

 Put them all together and what do you get?! Our beautiful garden.

A Late Blooming Garden!

I have been remiss! I just refound all this, but cutting through all that I would like to instead break through, right into the business. Upon seeing the date on last years amazing sunflowers! I realized that this year is a very late summer. We haven't had a single blood or head grow on our sunflower heads. Not yet this year. They are tall, and thirteen of last years sunflowers dropped enough seeds to regrow their beautiful progeny. Very exciting. We weren't as business like about out garden yet this year, but that isn't to say there aren't beautiful flowers growing happily. Just not as many to report on this year. I have however planned on bringing my camera tomorrow and I'll get some good pictures of the growing garden to update it. The speedwell by the way is grand. I'll update everything much better tomorrow, but for today I'll show you what I do have!



Apparently! Parsley (Which I have been inclined to grow this year, on our porch side garden), has produced another of nature's miracles. Mom saw it early this afternoon, going to take out her laundry. She discovered a  large butterfly, zigging and zagging around my plants! As though it had decided, that the huge purple whatever it was, we found to plant this year from Walmart, was a delicious snack. Taking its picture, this is what I discovered!  This lovely butterfly, is a female Black Swallowtail. She is also known as the villainous! Parsley worm. With every intention of making tea from my parsley this year. In hopes of trying out a new herb for cultivation, I have been thwarted. I couldn't very well be cutting fronds of parsley for brewing, when its covered in these!

He is adorable! And apparently the first stage of three that this kind of butterfly go . They go through 1 to 4 stages, and as they pass through them, he starts looking more and more like a monarch caterpillar. I'm planning on documenting him, and his two brothers. They are to be named.... Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. There are however, eggs, so if new arrivals from our lady's egg laying hatch, I will be documenting them as well. These are his expecting brothers! Lets wait and see!!!!