Bath's Patch ~ Nature in February

Yesterday, it was almost 60 here and quite sunny. I was so surprised to see there are still 2 Common Buckeye caterpillars feeding on the snapdragons in the garden by the back steps. I believe they go down into the straw when the weather is cold and windy and maybe close to the house foundation. From what I knew this wasn't really something that happens in NJ. I have heard though that back on 1/18/12 Mike C and Wil K found a Common Buckeye eclosing and drying it's at Cape Island Creek Preserve.

Common Buckeye Caterpillar

Spicebush Swallowtail Chrysalis

Black Swallowtail Chrysalis

My Yard ~ Overwintering Spicebush Swallowtail Chrysalis

This past winter I had 3 overwintering Spicebush Swallowtail chrysalis.  I wasn't sure when they would eclose but hoped I'd be home.  For 2 of them they eclosed early in May when I was still in AZ but today I turned around while working outside the garage and saw that the third butterfly had eclosed.  Here is a picture taken while it was still drying it's wings.