05/12/2026
A couple black swallowtail caterpillars showed up in the dill patch this week, which means the ecosystem is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.
Dill, parsley, fennel, and other plants in the carrot family are host plants for native swallowtails across Southeast Texas. The butterflies lay their eggs here, the caterpillars feed, and eventually the next generation takes flight across the fields, gardens, and creek bottoms that make up this landscape.
That’s part of the goal at Barrett Mills Farms. Not just growing food, but rebuilding habitat too. Native pollinators, songbirds, beneficial insects, healthy soil, and productive crops are all connected. A healthy dill patch feeds more than people.
Small moments like this are a reminder that when the land is managed with diversity and balance in mind, life comes back on its own.
The Land Remembers. 🦋🌿
