Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: I'm SO excited!!!, 1 by MartyJo

MartyJo wrote:
We're in the midst of a winter storm warning with lots of wind and snow, but look who came to my house! Last November as we harvested the last of the carrots we found a swallowtail caterpillar. Thinking he would freeze outside, I put him on a parsley plant I was bringing in for the winter. Within a week or so he had formed a chrysalis. Nothing more happened for months, so I assumed it had probably dried up, but just left it alone. I was looking past the plant this morning, watching the snow, when a dark shape that I thought was a dried leaf caught my eye. He (I think, am I right?) had apparently just recently emerged.

Now I'm concerned for his welfare. Not many nectar sources available in my house right now - an amaryllis in full bloom and some paperwhites just opening. But those wouldn't normally be his food plants. Lots of house plants, but no bloom. Would it help if I left shallow saucers of sugar water out? Should I go to the florist and try to buy some pots of asters, mums or daisies? Lacking potted plants, would cut daisies or other compositae help? A shame if he should have made it this far only to die.