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Diary of a Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

May 8, 2022 By Talya Tate Boerner 11 Comments

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and prepare to fall in love again. I’ve been sooooo excited to share my diary of a certain cute spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. If you followed my butterfly stories last summer, you might remember that I was a bit obsessed with raising butterflies on the back porch. I successfully released 50 butterflies—44 monarchs and 6 eastern black swallowtails.

And, at the end of the season, after the last monarch had headed to Mexico where they hibernate for winter, two spicebush swallowtail chrysalises lagged behind, still in the chrysalis stage.

So here’s my diary of a spicebush swallowtail caterpillar. Two caterpillars, actually.

Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: 10.17.21!

October 17, 2021 By Talya Tate Boerner 14 Comments

Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Good morning and happy Sunday. As we head into the middle of October, the temperatures in northwest Arkansas have finally dropped—it was 39 this morning! The asters are in full bloom. And, the Ozark hills and hollows are slowly coming alive with fall color.

I LOVE this time of year, this time before the holidays, before winter sets in and I begin to crave sunshine and watermelon again. Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: 08.23.2020

August 23, 2020 By Talya Tate Boerner 20 Comments

Sunday Letter

Hey, hey my Sunday Letter friends,

I’ve been absent the last few Sundays, but I’m back with more random Sunday Letter ramblings. After a week at the lake, I returned home to a butterfly nursery. Our milkweed and spicebush plants are CRAWLING with monarch and spicebush caterpillars. A variety of full-grown butterflies dance around every afternoon (hopefully laying more eggs).

monarch cats

It truly is amazing what a difference a week can make, not only in the physical space we return to, but also in the mental space we occupy.

Continue Reading

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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