https://notbecauseofvictories.tumblr.com/post/821503905709129729

We’re finally in the part of the summer where I have to water my outdoor plants every day—however, today when I went out with the watering can, I saw a black swallowtail flitting around. Not unusual, especially because my cucumber plants are flowering; I get honeybees too, and the occasional very confused squirrel.

However, this swallowtail kept fluttering around the parsley, which is confusing? Parsley doesn’t have any flowers at all…

Then I remembered: parsley worms. Aka, the caterpillar form of the swallowtail, which absolutely love parsley. They can mow down an entire patch if you’re not careful, and I’ve spent multiple years battling with them in ways both dignified (mild pesticide) and undignified (grab caterpillars and literally throw them into the neighbor’s yard).

However, in the moment all I could think to do was stand in my alley and watch a butterfly lay eggs. It was wild to watch, and I need everyone to appreciate my sudden stumble into a nature documentary.

https://notbecauseofvictories.tumblr.com/post/821503905709129729