My garden decided to reward me again this morning as I tried in vain to run some errands. I no sooner stepped out the back door when I discovered a new born Black Swallowtail Butterfly drying it's wings on my chili pepper plants!

I bolted for my camera and began snapping away. It took a few moments before I realized that I had created a little hidden niche for both the caterpillars, chrysalis' and the butterflies to brood in. While this fellow was drying, his brother or sister can be seen in the background getting ready to pupate!

I had planted various pepper plants in pots this year and surrounded them with Italian parsley. The swallowtails apparently approved and laid their eggs on the parsley. I had posted a number of pictures of the large group of swallowtail caterpillars on these plants and how I had to run about town lately finding more since they were munching the parsley down to nubs.

From Sept 19

The cats had enough to eat and then thanks to the chili pepper plants they had a place to crawl up to and hide inside while they began their metamorphosis.

Well hidden chrysalis!

I had to sit it out! I watched as the butterfly dried it's wings in the wind and caught this shot just before he took to the air and flew out of site. I am hoping to see him on the other side of my house a bit later where all the delicious flowers are. He can join the rest of the crazy flying circus that have become my garden friends!