Natural History Study: Swallowtail Butterflies

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If you have a budding naturalist or want to create one, I know of no better way to start than with the Bronze Fennel Plant. I have kept them as Garden Sentinels for 3 decades

Hiding Among the Fronds

 

Their foliage alone deserves garden space, but they hold a secret treasure: They are an integral part of the metamorphosis cycle of the Swallowtail Butterfly.

 

Fennel & Butterflies...

The giant fliers lay their eggs on the fennel branches and the caterpillars will consume much of the plant in a good butterfly year. The plant always recovers from this service to Gaia in no time.

 

Intricate Fractal Patterns

The caterpillars grow with amazing speed then go off to hide to await the final transformation into the most amazing and beautiful butterfly.

 

The Moss Rose

 

Bronze Fennel is perennial and once started will spread by seed & are easy to dig and share with others

 

Rosa Mundi

Old World Own Root Roses, Garlic Chives & Bronze Fennel are the three primary legs of my Companion Garden Pyramid.