I hope a BST momma finds you soon! Do you grow other host plants for them besides fennel?

I am growing a smorgasbord for them, trying to give them lots of choices and hoping I'll get more eggs that way. Dill, Parsley, Rue, Bronze fennel, and both Zizia aptera and aurea. I just picked up 8 more Dill seedlings at a plant swap today! (Trying to decide where to plant them..)

I have all the plants but the last 2 but have only been raising them for 2 years so hopefully I will see something but I'm not holding my breath

Rob, the Black Swallowtails have been slow arriving this year. I finally saw my first female today. She left me some eggs. I normally see them in May. I'm just glad they finally arrived.

Usually if you have the plants, the EBS will find them and leave eggs, no matter where you live. You just may have to wait a little longer.

Sandy

Yeah, Sandy! Glad mama BST finally found you! They were very, very slow to reach me this year. I usually also get them in late April to early May. And, as you witnessed, I have lots of food for them. I had many eggs hatch yesterday, so will have plenty.

They should be getting to you before too much longer, Rob! Butterfly activity has been very slow for me this year.

Susan

Susan, I so enjoyed our visit this week. I passed the caterpillars on to Emma. She was thrilled to get them. Thank you for making a little girl happy.

The cuttings are doing great.

Take care in this heat.

Sandy

Rob,
I'm also in Grand Rapids. I've had dill and parsley and Golden Alexander for several years, and now my fennel is in its second year. So far I've gotten one visit from a female that left eggs. That was a few weeks ago, and I have 10 cats getting fat on my kitchen counter. I go out every day to check for eggs, but haven't found more, yet. Last year I'd find eggs almost every time I went out, but that was later in the summer. Be patient. We should meet sometime. I always wish I could get together with people on this forum and take garden tours with someone who really "gets it". Good luck!

Martha

Boy, I can relate to making friends who "get it", Martha. Probably 99% of the folks I meet or friends I have just kind of shrug off my butterfly and moth interests, like I am some kind of eccentric kook! That's why Sandy is my very best friend in Oklahoma. She is a very wise and dedicated butterfly and moth guru.

Sandy, I have 3 beautiful Variegated Frit chrysalises now! The big one pupated the following day, on Friday, another one Saturday, and the remaining one today. I am so excited I can barely stand it.

How is your Achemon Sphinx cat?

I am waiting until Tuesday when it cools off a bit to plant some of the things you brought. I feel like they'll do better if I wait until it cools down and we maybe get some rain!

I put some cuttings of Flame Acanthus in cups if you would like a couple. They are doing okay so far.

Susan

Sandy, glad to hear that you have finally seen one. I have been patiently (ok, maybe not very patiently) waiting for mine. I have three huge fennell plants - probably teh largest and healthiest I've ever had... and three dill plants. And no black swallowtails in south Tulsa... yet. But hopefully soon.

My sister in Ft. Worth has already raised and released three, has 5 chrysalids, and three caterpillars right now. I am tempted to drive to Ft. Worth to adopt some of hers. :-)

~Laura

Laura,

If I get some more, I'll post, and you will be welcome to come get some to adopt.

Sandy

Sandy - good news! I found some eggs on my dill today! I some how missed the mama when she was laying, but no doubt they are EBST eggs. Yay! Hopefully she'll be back!

~Laura

Way to go!! I'm excited for you. It looks like the butterflies are making their appearances.

Sandy