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
