Spicebush Swallowtail - grace grits and gardening

Sunday Letter: 06.12.22

June 12, 2022 By Talya Tate Boerner

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

This is a real picture of our front porch.

Hahaha, not really, but seriously with all the rain we’ve been having, our world is flourishing into a jungle. Nature could easily swallow everything. And HUMID! Oh my goodness, this morning’s air is wrapped in a damp flannel blanket. The sort you get at an army surplus store.

But with only nine days until summer, I’m trying to appreciate every drop of rain. When the clouds dry up and the temperatures soar (which is already happening), I’ll be praying for a rainy day. Probably by Wednesday, if I’m being honest.

(P.S. the overgrown porch picture was taken by Theo Bickel on Unsplash.)Continue Reading

Diary of a Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

May 8, 2022 By Talya Tate Boerner

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.

tail-end of summer Sunday Letter: 09.22.19

September 22, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner

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

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