cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
19348
A disaster in the garden ends up with champagne...
The disaster (depending on your point of view) was a swallow-tail butterfly that laid scores of eggs on our prime parsley plant!
They hatched and began eating about 2 days ago and have eaten about a third of the plant already. So we had a long discussion about the desirability of butterflies, the nuisance of caterpillars, the utility of parsley, etc.
We did another check and decided that at this rate in a few days the entire plant would be stripped. We had to relocate the little buggers... and the bottom of my shoes was not the most attractive relocation...
Pondering our options, we thought of the native plant garden and OB Community Garden? The perfect spots! Lots and lots of plants for them to eat!
Caretakers to make sure the plants are fed and watered. We trimmed off all the occupied parsley stems, put them in a little box, and headed on over.
I suggested an afternoon tea, proper British style, but it's 82° F so a bit hot for tea. Piper-Heidsieck will have to suffice as a substitute.
Strawberries, black berries, grapes, cherries, pears, cake. Lavender. Champagne. Yeah! Watch back on.
All this good stuff reminds me of France.
Have a nice evening!
BTW here is a mature Swallowtail, so we know they frequent this place. I wonder if she can care for about 50 young-uns?
A little garden philosophy, no charge.
A monarch butterfly, the celebrity variety of butterfly.
Having done our good deed for the day, we headed home. But on the way my wife recalled a need to stop by our friend Susan's place, to do some watering.
I reached into Susan's grapevines, and found hundreds of ripe grapes! She won't be home until September, so we are obligated to take some grapes home with us.
Yes, I took off my watch because I didn't want to get it all grapey-sticky.
In addition to the grapes, my wife and her friend did a little berry picking in the back yard this morning.
While at a Mexican market yesterday we bought some cake. None of these but still very nice.
A little garden philosophy, no charge.
A monarch butterfly, the celebrity variety of butterfly.
Having done our good deed for the day, we headed home. But on the way my wife recalled a need to stop by our friend Susan's place, to do some watering.
I reached into Susan's grapevines, and found hundreds of ripe grapes! She won't be home until September, so we are obligated to take some grapes home with us.
Yes, I took off my watch because I didn't want to get it all grapey-sticky.
In addition to the grapes, my wife and her friend did a little berry picking in the back yard this morning.
While at a Mexican market yesterday we bought some cake. None of these but still very nice.
I suggested an afternoon tea, proper British style, but it's 82° F so a bit hot for tea. Piper-Heidsieck will have to suffice as a substitute.
Strawberries, black berries, grapes, cherries, pears, cake. Lavender. Champagne. Yeah! Watch back on.
All this good stuff reminds me of France.
Have a nice evening!
Cazalea
A disaster in the garden ends up with champagne...
The disaster (depending on your point of view) was a swallow-tail butterfly that laid scores of eggs on our prime parsley plant! They hatched and began eating about 2 days ago and have eaten about a third of the plant already. So we had a long discussion ...
Thank you! I will have a nice evening because
I'll spend part of it looking often at what you've shared! Nature is and will always be the best artist!
Do you like tomatoes?
These were the selection of heirlooms at the market yesterday. I didn't buy any because we are still stocked up with free produce. These are $4-6 a pound. Edible flowers for sale there, too, at $15 a box You have to be a fru-fru chef to use these but I ca...
I made a salad for a young lady who was working for us
The flowers are from our garden (nasturiums) they look pretty and taste fine. That's about as delicate as I can manage. I don't insert them with chopsticks like chefs will do. ...
Truly impressive deed by you both!
Okay, now many questions I need to ask, please: Why do the caterpillars in the second picture look different (darker) than the third picture? I’m guessing it’s the same guys, so are they at a different point of development or are these a different group? ...
Stage of Development - they get brighter green as they get larger
We could just squish them and save the ruination. Or put a net over the parsley to keep the butterfly out. Yes, by moving them we put other crops at risk, but we thinned the caterpillars out - one or two per plant rather than 50 on one plant. We have only...
Okay I understand the setting and management strategy better now.👍🏽
This extent of Nature on full display and your and Mrs. C’s seamless interactions and appreciation for it all is intriguing (and educational) for me. 🙏🏽
I just went back to our parsley and found 5 more caterpillars
We will have to keep checking, since eggs can be hatching for some time... ...
I’m not
an entomologist but I’m pretty sure you are looking at two different things here. While the first picture is a swallowtail butterfly larvae, this photo is of a tomato hornworm (common name), sphinx moth (more general name).
You’re right, the close-up was a tomato worm
My wife told me the same thing after I posted it - she’s the “worm squashing expert” in the family. I deleted the image. Here is a parsley eater for sure: From 2 years ago when we didn’t catch them in time - as you can see the parsley was almost completel...
Brilliant!
That describes your photography, eloquent narration, garndening and culinary skills! We are adding a greenhouse to the backyard next year. Your message box will be filled with messages from me soliciting advice
