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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

tail-end of summer Sunday Letter: 09.22.19

September 22, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner 11 Comments

Sunday Letter: 09.22.19

Dearly beloved, we gather for this Sunday Letter on the last day of summer. Can you believe it?

Here in Arkansas, summer only decided to show itself a few weeks ago. And now, at the tail-end of a weird season, during an even crazier weather year, here we are. Tomorrow is the first day of fall.

FALL!!! Yes, I’m a little bit excited. Today, if it’s the only thing I do, I will mark the changing seasons by swapping out my front door wreath for something more autumnal. If you change your front door wreath, the cooler weather will come… It’s true.

I had a busy week, didn’t get enough accomplished in the area of writing, but absorbed culture in the form of The Goldfinch (loved it!) and The Blue Man Group (loved it too!). The Blue Man Group performed at Walton Arts Center. It’s always a treat to go there.Continue Reading

Hungry Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillars ?

August 21, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner 3 Comments

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

I’m super excited to report that we finally have spicebush swallowtail caterpillars in our garden! In early spring, we planted four spicebush shrubs specifically for the butterflies. Then, almost every day since planting them, I’ve been inspecting our spicebushes, hoping to find caterpillars.

Up until last week, nothing. Each time I see a torn leaf, I look more closely hoping to find a hungry, hungry caterpillar. A folded leaf? I look again, hoping to find a hiding caterpillar.

Nope. Nothing.

I worried that our plants were too new. Maybe it takes a few seasons to be discovered? Continue Reading

Talya Tate Boerner


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

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE

and

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


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