It’s truly amazing how long butterflies can stay in their chrysalis before emerging. It’s usually a few weeks at best that I have experienced with the butterflies that visit our garden.

Our winter had some cold days this year, which prolonged the process for the polydamas swallowtail.

This beauty created its chrysalis late last year in our butterfly house, and finally emerged now that our Southwest Florida temperatures are hitting the warmth they do desire. There are two remaining that I am patiently waiting for their arrival.

The polydamas swallowtail is once again becoming a daily visitor to the garden, and leaving behind lots of eggs.