DALE’S MAILBAG

“We have been having quite the black swallowtail caterpillar and butterfly festival at our place this summer. First noticed them on curly parsley plants about two months ago. Since then, we have had 12 caterpillars. Three of the first seven caterpillars pupated and made it through to becoming butterflies. An amazing process to watch the chrysalis form. I always assumed that it was some sort of a silk-spun cocoon, but the chrysalis just magically overtakes their body and they change in a matter of minutes!” — Paul Yambrovich

I think an increase in interactions with butterflies is another offshoot of the pandemic and 2020.