Celebrating the ordinary

These are my favorite caterpillars and I like finding them in the backyard. The first sign is when I find a leaf on my native Kentucky spicebush (Lindera benzoin) cut and folded like this.

When I open the leaf, I usually see a small spicebush swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio troilus).

In a week or so, I often find a large leaf folded in half like this.

When I open the leaf, this is my special treat.

Isn’t it a cutie? Those are false eye spots and the head is actually hidden under what looks like a mouth, but isn’t. The face is supposed to look scary – especially to critters looking for a meal.

The folded leaf is created by a web spun by the caterpillar. It hides there in the daytime and comes out at night to eat.

Eventually, the caterpillar changes into a chrysalis and emerges as a spicebush swallowtail butterfly. These butterflies only lay their eggs on spicebush or sassafras (Sassafras albidum) plants.

Spicebush is one of my favorite native Kentucky shrubs. I appreciate the small yellow blooms that are one of the first signs of spring, and I like the delightful spicy smell of the leaves. And, it’s the host of my favorite caterpillar!

I am thoroughly enjoying the striking color and form of Royal catchfly (Silene regia). It’s a Kentucky native perennial that grows 2-4 ft. tall.

The blossoms are a brilliant red and stand out from a distance. They are also well deserving of a closer look. I want more of them in my garden next summer.

I recently created a small picture book. As the subject of half of my previous blogs, you can see how enthused I am about butterflies. The book is a way to share my enjoyment with others. You can preview it on Blurb and order a copy if you like.

Update:  You can also order directly from me.

Monarch Magic

By Betty Hall

Preview book

This paperback book follows a monarch butterfly from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis and finally to adult butterfly. I’ve used simple words and photographs, and hope the book will appeal to young children as well as adults.

I wouldn’t have had this experience without common milkweed in our backyard. It’s yet another reason I’m glad we landscaped with native plants.

You may be able to preview the book below. It’s working on some computers but not others. I’d be glad to hear if it works for you.

This intricate blossom reminds me of a dancer with a beautifully woven skirt. It’s a passion flower (Passiflora incarnata), a native Kentucky vine now blooming in the backyard. I find it to be quite exotic and another example of the amazing designs found in nature.

I found butterfly eggs on my native pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) and brought them inside. I’ve enjoyed watching the caterpillars hatch, grow, and make chrysalises. This past weekend, six weeks later, the butterflies emerged and are now flying in and out of the backyard.

Beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) on native purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) – what a delight!

Here’s a different view of the the same butterfly on native Lady Fern (Athrium felix-femina). In the right light the iridescent blue is breathtaking.