I saw my first gulf frit yesterday and released my third anise swallowtail yesterday as well. I was so excited because some years I don't see any gulf frits at all and last year I was thrilled when in July I saw a female gulf frit laying eggs on my passionvine, or at least what was left of it because I had just cut it severely back because it was taking over some pipe vine and I hadn't seen any gulf frits to speak of in a couple of years. In fact, I had just cut it back again earlier this week since I never expected to see one for a long while. When will I learn to be a bit more patient? But things look promising. Murray

I'm so jealous! Thank you for sharing the picture. All I have blooming now is chives, so I'm happy to see a cabbage white, or even thrilled to see a bumble bee. I have seen a huge bumble zooming around. I'm hoping it's a queen scouting around for a nesting spot. I hope you continue to see lots of huge butterflies. Martha

OK, here's the update. I took the dog out for an hour this morning. When I left, the caterpillar was hanging upside down in a "J" shape. When I returned he had gone into the pupa stage; it happened in one hour! I was astonished. It's a beautiful nearly iridescent green. Research tells me this phase takes 10 days. I took the paper off the top of the vase (which was there before to keep it from crawling out) and set the vase outside in the shade which seems the most natural environment for it.

Glad to hear it, James. Hope you get many more. It was windy today here in Central Florida. There were butterflies, but not as many as days when it's sunny with little wind.