caterpillars

Img_1179.jpgThe fennel out near the street is now over six feet tall and covered with caterpillars that grow into black swallowtail butterflies. We don't object to their eating the fennel. In fact it is mostly for their benefit that we grow it.

However fennel is a fairly nice plant to grow anyway. We started out by planting it out back in the garden. Somehow this one escaped and set itself up under a tree near the street. Like all volunteers it seems to do much better than any we have planted ourselves.

Being near the street it catches the eye of passersby. In the early spring when it is under two feet tall most assume it is some kind of fern. It is probably most attractive as a landscaping plant at that stage. At the stage it is now it has interesting yellow flowers and seedheads but is kind of rangy. The caterpillars tend to strip the soft foliage away and leave bare stalks.

I like to eat the seeds myself. They taste like licorice. They also make a nice seasoning.

But really all those are just extras because the real pleasure comes when you see the big black swallowtails floating gently in the breeze.

Posted by Bill Hopkins on May 19, 2004 09:20 PM
Comments

AMEN!! the butterflies are beeeutiful >^..^< can't wait....Sure wish the 2 fennel plants in view of the breakfast room would grow like this one, but alas, as Bill said, it has a mind of it's own. Atleast the hummingbird plants are out there.

Posted by: Tricia at May 19, 2004 09:39 PM

I'll trade you my caterpillars for yours!

Posted by: Mary Lou at May 20, 2004 12:02 PM

WOW!!! You have black swallowtail larvae already! I grew fennel last year for the first time & had 3 larvae.....they overwintered on trees in the backyard and emerged May 10- missed the occasion. On May 9 the chrysalis' looked as they did since October & on May 10 they were open & empty. This year the fennel is almost 4 ft tall, but we won't see any butterflies until the heat of the summer.....planted zinnias for them to feed on. The swamp milkweed is growing like crazy to attract the monarchs back this summer- isn't nature grand?????

Posted by: Dottie at May 20, 2004 03:00 PM

Their colors are gorgeous in both stages. It's interesting to read about Mary Lou's plight and your encouragement, albeit with different species.

Posted by: Leslie at May 20, 2004 09:15 PM

Fennel! That is what I was missing! I knew I had forgotten to get an herb. I'm growing everything else though! Thyme, oregano, cilantro, dill, spearmint, parsley, rosemary, pinapple age, bluebasil... but no fennel!

Posted by: cybertoad at May 21, 2004 04:57 PM

I've read...Don't plant the fennel near the dill...they say the plants tend to cross and you lose the flavor of both. The butterflies definitely know the difference.

Posted by: quiltcat at May 21, 2004 09:48 PM

Cybertoad- don't forget to plant a necter source near the fennel if you want to attract black swallowtails- I plant zinnias around the fennel for their necter source- the fennel is the host plant for the swallowtails to lay their eggs- when they are ready they will travel about 50 feet to find a tree to spin the chrysalis..........good luck.....here in St. Louis they spin in October & overwinter to emerge in May or when it is warm enough........

Posted by: Dottie at May 22, 2004 08:45 PM

I was going to post exactly the same thing myself yesterday. I went to look at the fennel and it was covered with swallotail cats.

(I see you installed the spam guard key. I still have trouble with mine timing out.)

Posted by: M Stevens (Austin) at May 23, 2004 03:13 PM

Thanks quiltcat and Dottie - I'll plant the fennel in the garden instead of in a container on the patio where the dill is. I also already have zinnias planted in the garden too so that will work perfecty!

Posted by: cybertoad at May 24, 2004 12:39 AM

Now that's some picture! Isn't it such a privilege and joy to be surrounded by amazing creatures?

Posted by: Coup de Vent at May 24, 2004 01:03 AM