First, just because they’re pretty…very pink hollyhocks! I don’t remember pink ones from last year, only white, but I’ll take vivid pink flowers anywhere I can get them.

I watered the clover seeds around the pond last night, and just for the hell of it, I started watering the Virginia Snakeroot. I was merrily blasting it with water when I noticed a little brown blob. Closer inspection revealed that it was a clump of bebe Pipevine Swallowtail paterkillers! I had none last year, but by the time I’d finished watering, I’d found 22 caterpillars, and two tiny orange eggs (that may or may not hatch). I hope I’ve got enough snakeroot for them, but at least if I don’t, I can move them to pipevine. I think they should be called “Snakeroot Swallowtail”; they seem to like it more than actual pipevine.