“Never had I realized how deeply my internal clock was set to bloom times.”

Monarchs deserve a moment. Several moments in fact. And at the same time, might I humbly offer that we spare a little attention for the black swallowtail as well? It’s doesn’t bear the same flashing colorings as the the monarch, viceroy, or painted ladies.  Nor does it evoke the same ephemeral essence of a cloudless sulfur.  It is dark. And elegant. And dare I say romantic.  

As with much in my garden this year, the Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) bloomed early. Like, before-April-early. This perky wild thing is host to the black swallowtail and woodland swallowtail. And while the warnings have been coming for decades, I still managed to experience unmitigated shock to learn that my region has changed a whole growing zone (6a to 7a).  

Never had I realized how deeply my internal clock was set to bloom times, and yet here we are.

Golden Alexander thrive in full sun and only grow one to two feet in height.  So, very easy to tuck in between your other sun worshipping perennials or in your veggie garden to distract the ever hungry caterpillars from laying waste to your carrots and fennel.  They, like many of our favorite native perennials, tolerate a variety of soil, including clay.  They are tough and spunky, kind of like you on the occasion. 

Keep planting your milkweed for monarchs AND consider squeezing in some space for Golden Alexander.  Swallowtails will still appreciate nectar from the liatris and phlox that you’ve tucked in for the monarchs, but need that host plant to get their caterpillars started.