
Thanks to Julie for sending:
“I started with two swamp milkweeds in my proud weed garden in Foggy Bottom. I labeled all of my plants, which were all edible weeds, such as lambquarter, Virginia Pepper Plant, and lemon balm, plus a hopeful butterfly garden with milkweeds. The swamp milkweeds seeded, but we saw no butterflies. I harvested the seeds, wintered them in my fridge, and put them in this spring. Seven plants survived.
About two weeks ago, something bright caught my eye. It was a monarch caterpillars, 5th instar. It was bright yellow and black and beautiful. When I came back out a few hours later, it was still eating through the swamp milkweed leaves ravenously. Then, it was suddenly gone. I tried looking for a chrysalis but couldn’t- I wished it all the good in the world.
Yesterday, when I came home from dropping off my seven year old on a routine day, there it was! (more…)