A New Day

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My new day starts before light with coffee in the catio, as the cats keep me company. They sniff the humid, warm morning while I sip and watch the dark sky turn pink and yellow at the horizon, beyond my oak trees. Then it’s play time inside with the cats, all wands-with-fluffy-feathers, jingly bells, and happy purrs. At some point, I’m in the back garden for the first round of look-sees in the morning sun, feeding the pond fish, and hanging a couple of bird feeders. Then, it’s time for the dog’s walk.

On a recent morning, if I’d been more alert during that first round in the garden, I would have seen two Black Swallowtail butterflies emerging from their temporary homes, the homes where they morphed from worms to wings. Alas, it was later in the morning, as their wings dried the the bright sun, and before take-off for their new day as adults, that I noticed and appreciated, their beauty.

The butterfly situated at the top of a fennel stem caught my attention first.

I neglected to include the whole of its now-open chrysalis in this photo, just like I neglected to take any photos of both chrysalises in the two weeks they were in chemical flux. That was my bad to miss documenting those jewels. The chrysalises are stunning and look like they are lit from within. Maybe they are.

I like this view of the same insect. It’s rare that a butterfly demonstrates the whole of its underside in my presence, without my having to twist and turn and crane my neck for a glimpse or photograph.

The second butterfly and its worm-to-wing home were stationed two stems over from the first.

You can see two drops of liquid settled on the stem, which spurted from the butterfly just before I snapped the photo. I assume this liquid is part of the chemical transformation from a caterpillar to a winged insect, and the reason why butterflies, after emergence from their chrysalises, must sit in the sun, opening and closing their wings until dry.

Shortly after I snapped photo, the butterfly took flight, to nectar and mate, to continue the cycle.

36 thoughts on “A New Day”

    • Thanks, Sam–it is a nice way to start the day.

      As an aside, I think WP has tagged me a spammer. I realized last week that my comments were not appearing on any blogs, so I’ve been reaching out to bloggers with whom I regularly comment. Several have mentioned that they found my comments in their spam. I sent you an email with this info, but I don’t know if it’s an email you regularly check. Could you please check your WP spam? I commented on your ‘Cuckcoo’ post (which was great, btw), so it might be there. After some sage advice (from Steve, next in line!) I’m having some success at commenting. But I need to be pulled from the spam box! Thanks!

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      • I found 2 comments from you in WP Spam. I’ve released them – don’t know why they went in that category! I do have my Comments set to quarantine comments that contain links, and one of yours did contain a link, but normally the quarantine (wait for approval) doesn’t cause the commenter to be labeled as Spam WP mysteries, for sure.

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      • It’s not you, it’s me. I’m the spammer! I’m not sure how I got tagged with that, either. I’ve noticed other glitches with WP in the last few months, but this one is the worst. Anyhow, thanks for freeing me from from spam detention! Onward to comment on your newest post!

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  2. It’s clear you enjoy your pleasant early morning routine in the garden.

    “Worms to wings” is a good alliteration, taking”worms” in casual rather than entomological English.

    While we have a bunch of swallowtail butterflies, there doesn’t seem to be a single butterfly-tail swallow.

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    • It’s how I wake up in the morning. Of course this time of year, I only have a certain amount of time to work outdoors (if that’s what I need to do), so my mornings can be busy.

      You’re right! I never though about any butterfly qualities being used to describe birds! 🙂

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  3. I also like your routine, Tina. It assures that everyone gets their due–the cats, the garden, the birds, and the dog. And you get to see everything that has happened since the day before.

    Thank you for sharing a glimpse into these garden goings-on, your butterflies are beautiful.

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    • Haha–don’t forget the fish! I really like seeing the garden each day, it’s always remarkable how things change on a daily basis. Those butterflies are real beauties and thankfully, pretty common here.

      As an aside, I think WP has tagged me a spammer. I realized last week that my comments were not appearing on any blogs, so I’ve been reaching out to bloggers with whom I regularly comment. Several have mentioned that they found my comments in their spam. I sent you an email with this info, but I don’t know if it’s an email you regularly check. Could you please check your WP spam? I commented on your ‘Kane Ranch’ post, which I enjoyed very much, so it might be there. After some sage advice from another blogger, I’m having some success at commenting. But I need to be pulled from the spam box, if you’d be so kind to do so! Thanks!

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      • Yes, the fish. Of course. Sorry, I did not mean to disrespect your fish! I’m sure they are very happy to see you each morning! 😊🐡🐠🐟
        I found one message from you in the spam and approved it. Sorry that’s happening, it’s so frustrating. I hope you will get help from WP to remedy the problem!

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    • And I’m just the opposite–plenty of Pipevine, Black Swallowtail, and Fritillary emergings, but maybe one Monarch!

      But you’re so right, it’s always thrilling to see the emergence and new adults.

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    • They are beauties. Funnily enough, I just found another a little while ago. It had pupated on the next plant over! So three in about 24 hours have entered the pollinator population!

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  8. How fantastic to have that in your garden! I don’t seem to see many pupa nowadays. Butterflies need to pump fluids into their wings to inflate them and that’s why they hang down. If they get disturbed the wings would be permanently deformed.
    Great shots, loved seeing them.

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    • Thanks, Brian! And thanks for the reminder about the liquid into the wings. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a squirt like that though–it was interesting! Those wings are both delicate and remarkably strong.

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  11. Your mornings sound like heaven! I smiled at the kitty-play. When I still had Dixie Rose, the morning routine always involved brushing her while I drank a cup of coffee. If I wasn’t moving fast enough, she was quite capable of bringing her brush to me, exactly as a dog would. It was the oddest, and most charming, thing.

    The butterflies are beautiful. Every now and then I notice a ‘fresh’ one somewhere, and marvel again at their perfection. I see plenty of caterpillars in the wild, but I’ve yet to come across a chrysalis. They surely must be around; I suspect it’s my vision that’s at fault. After I find my first, I’m sure I’ll find more.

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    • I really like the routine, but it is a hurried thing at times, depending on what other events the day will bring. Pets have a way of forcing a routine, I think. That story about Dixie is just darling! Smart kitty!

      I’m always awed at the richness of color that a new butterfly exhibits. They’re just so stunning! Chrysalises are hard to see. I try to be careful when I prune, so as to not dispatch one to the compost bins, but I’m sure I’ve missed some over the years.

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  14. I’m shown as logged in to WP as shoreacres, but I keep getting a message that “someone else” is using my account — there’s something really wonky with your blog. If you talk with WP, you might mention that people are having trouble commenting, too.

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