I was privileged this week to see something that usually goes on around us unnoticed. Last week I spotted a butterfly chrysalis on one of the fennel plants in the herb garden just outside our kitchen door. My wife and I walk right by the two giant plants (one bronze and one green) every time we go out the door and into the yard and gardens. And we often see swallowtail caterpillars on them, munching away. But this time I caught the chrysalis, attached to the stalk of the green fennel plant. It was camouflaged well, blending in with the yellow and green colors of the blooming fennel plant.
Black Swallowtail chrysalis attached to fennel plant (click on any image to enlarge)
And yesterday I was fortunate to spot the newly emerged Black Swallowtail butterfly, drying its wings before it took its first flight. The butterfly was easy to spot, its black wings standing out clearly against the green fennel.
Black Swallowtail butterfly after emerging from chrysalis
It was sitting motionless on the fennel plant, just above the remains of its chrysalis shell.
closeup of swallowtail above chrysalis
I came back about an hour later, but it was gone. I missed its first flight, but I was happy I got to see the miracle of transformation like I did. Fly well little butterfly, and happy sailing around Happy Acres!