Eastern Black Swallowtails: A New Generation

           For several years I have planted  fennel as a host plant for the Easter Black Swallowtail Butterflies to lay eggs on.  Fennel, dill, parsley and Queen Anne's Lace are the host plants that feed black swallowtail caterpillars,  so that is where the female butterfly lays her eggs.  For several years my cannas outcompeted the fennel for space in the garden so the fennel's growth was limited.  This year, however, the cannas didn't come back and the fennel grew to six feet tall.  That's when I noticed caterpillars, lots and lots of caterpillars.  In fact, there were so many caterpillars that there isn't much fennel left.





The caterpillars's job is to eat and grow until it is time to pupate.

 

The chrysalis, where metamorphosis takes place.

 



Adult Eastern Black Swallowtail -- male.

  

 

To see the Monarch Butterfly life cycle, and photos of a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, see my post dated September 29, 2016, called Miracle of Monarchs.                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 



Oh Those Fun Amphibians

 

 

           Most toads are nocturnal and like to hunt insects at night. These two Fowler's Toads seem to have found a shady toad abode to pass a hot summer day.

           This Grey Tree Frog chose a perfect window perch for catching insects... and apparently watching television since this is the only window I see him in at night and it is directly across from my TV.

          Frogs and toads are both amphibians.  Toads have bumpier skin than frogs.  Frogs prefer wet habitats near water while toads typically prefer dry land.  Both lay eggs in the water.  Toad eggs appear in long chains while frog eggs are in gelatinous clusters.  We have 28 species of frogs and toads in Virginia.

An Amazing Collection of Azaleas

          A generous family donated their 79-acre property in Hanover County to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.  It is called the Lewis Ginter Nature Preserve. The estate features an impressive azalea collection of more than 1,600 varieties. In addition to azaleas, there are huge trees, dogwoods and beautiful rhododendrons.  Recently, I was fortunate to visit the property with the Virginia Landscape Design Consultants Council while the azaleas and dogwoods were in bloom. And thankfully, I had my camera.

          Unlike my spontanious gardening style  (there's a plant sale!), this family worked professionally and methodically for many years.  Not only is every plant labeled, but a database was established to record all the azaleas. Strolling through the garden, you see names such as Prosperity, Kagetsu, Marian Lee and Koromo Shikibu.  When combined with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's own azalea database, this puts Richmond near the top among significant azalea gardens in the U.S. 

          Besides a gift of a garden that is beautiful and timeless,  it is also one that is exact and recorded.  What a labor of love. What a gift. Thank you to the family for this gift of a lifetime.

 

 

 

Tulips To Make Your Heart Sing

          Tulips are such a joyful sign of spring.  You don't have to visit Holland to see masses of beautiful tulips, just visit Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in mid to late April.  The Garden celebrates A Million Blooms, and this is what it looks like: