The heat of summer 2024 continues to break records throughout the northern hemisphere, as does the number of people traveling.  And just as many were settling into well-deserved vacations, the breaking weekend news brought the United States to an abrupt halt.  Now it is Monday and the beginning of the work week.  Life will proceed, as it always does, one way or another, in the whole of the natural world.  That world never ceases to amaze me, as I continue to scan and observe it.

Each spring, I plant basil seeds in pots in order to have an ample supply of it for pesto.  And I always planted parsley in Taos County as well.  It was quite hardy and apparently either reseeded or wintered over in our raised beds, so it seemed a good idea to plant some here as well.  The first year's crop evolved into a second, third, and now fourth year.  It really is quite a resilient and lovely plant.  Normally, I will clip some for a number of different dishes.  When I looked down at it yesterday, I saw a caterpillar or worm on it.  At first blush, I thought it was a tomato worm, but should have known better because they are quite green and have horns.  This particular caterpillar was different.  Papilio polyxenes or the American (or black) swallowtail reminded me of a koshare, with its clown stripes and dots of color.  The striping is simply perfect.  Doing research, I learned that their preferred food is parsley.  What are the chances that this caterpillar shows up in a pot in our yard, when probably no one else in the neighborhood is growing parsley? Apparently decent because now two caterpillars are here, and I figure it is worth the sacrifice of some parsley for the beauty that it is and will be as a butterfly and pollinator.   

If you look carefully or zoom in, you can see little nails or grippers that firmly hold the parsley stem as they chew.  They truly are little eating machines.  

Quite frankly, I can't wait to see the butterflies in their fullness next month.  

Thanks to Sara, Jean & Sam, Marilyn R., Catherine, TTT, Steve, Barbara F. R., and Marilyn G. for writing this week! 

until next Monday

DB

a passion for the image©