Hmmmmm, let's see, comparing 'Attraction' to 'Miss Ruby'... Well, to start with, I would say that they're really not all that different. Actually, I think one could argue that an awful lot of butterfly bush cultivars are pretty much functionally interchangeable in the landscape, since they mostly all thrive in hot sun, resist deer very well, get as enormous as they're allowed to, look bad in the winter, and look great in the summer, particularly if they're fertilized and dead-headed. There are exceptions, of course, but most of the standard Buddleia davidii varieties do essentially that. So they're all pretty good, especially amongst the newer, high-quality cultivars, including both 'Attraction' and 'Miss Ruby.' That said, we can attempt to compare and contrast them a bit. Does 'Miss Ruby' attract "more butterflies than any other?" That wasn't obvious to me, and I'm skeptical about that. Its flowers were certainly smothered by butterflies and all manner of other insects last summer, but so were those of every other butterfly bush variety. If the bugs can tell any difference or have any preference for one or another, it wasn't apparent to me. Does it have "unigue [sic] silver leaves?" No, not to me. I thought the leaves of 'Miss Ruby' were very nice, and were a little broader and thicker and "cleaner"-looking than most butterfly bushes (at least until an outbreak of mites in August disfigured the foliage of most buddleias). But I wouldn't say that 'Miss Ruby's leaves were unique, and they weren't particularly silver, the way 'Lochinch' and some other buddleias are. And actually, I think 'Attraction has very nice foliage compared to other butterfly bushes, too. So in my opinion, based on one year, I would call it a tie between the two. Which variety "has more red in it?" Well, the easy answer is neither. I don't care what anybody or any magazine or website says, to my eyes, neither 'Attraction' nor 'Miss Ruby' nor any other buddleia I've seen really looks red to me. Of the two, though, I still think 'Attraction' is a little more reddish. The color of 'Miss Ruby' is very pretty, though, kind of a fluorescent magenta, but I wouldn't call it red. So, which one would I "go with?" I like them both a lot, and I don't think you could go wrong either way. To me, I think it would come down to what its role would be in the particular spot you have in mind of it. If it's a spot that needs a compact, medium-sized specimen, I would pick 'Miss Ruby.' If it's a spot where a big, expansive, sprawling mass, covered with lovely flowers and leaves would be best, I would choose 'Attraction.' The bottom line, though, is that I'm sure you'll be happy with either.

If you have mature butterfly bushes already blooming in your gardens, then I'd expect your three year old cuttings to be blooming too. All of my experience with these plants suggests they will bloom the first year from fresh cuttings. I've taken tip cuttings in spring/early summer and they bloom before the season is through. If you've been pinching the growing tips, that will slow down the blooming process but the plant should still bloom during the growing season, once you stop pinching the branch tips. If it were me, I'd try a bit of weak fertilizer feed to start with and see how things go. Are you absolutely certain they are butterfly bush plants? Mary

I still get excited about getting a good look at any kind of woodpecker, but your photo is great! I have never gotten a picture of any of my woodpeckers. We only rarely see the Pileated (it's a big favorite for me, too!!), but our Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers call all day long, every day in the Black Gum Swamp. We also get Red-headed Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Northern Flickers in there. Our very oldest, tallest Slash Pine is dying and I guess it will become a popular tree with the woodpeckers. It was struck by lightning at least twice since we moved to the property in 1997! Since we dug a new pond near our house we get to see a Belted Kingfisher and various enormous herons and egrets pretty often. Let's see, I guess my butterfly-related comment is that I wonder if there are any tricks to getting Red Admirals. Any suggestions on where I should plant my False Nettle seed? I already planted a lot in wet soil along the new pond where it's still bare. This forum is so tempting once spring comes along... but I need to go outside!

I can't remember where I bought mine, it was so long ago. It finally started dying back last year, so I dug up what was left. My husband was very sick, and I couldn't take care of my garden last spring or summer, so my vigorous passionvine, monarda and other plants overtook it. If I had weeded properly, it would probably still be growing. Still, I had it at least ten years. I Googled it and found MANY sources for it, ranging from $4.00 to $24.00. The nurseries that I do business with regularly aren't carrying it, so I can't recommend any of the nurseries. I ordered a butterfly bush called 'Inspired Violet' last year, grew it in the pot until I was sure all the butterflies liked it (they do) then planted it in its own bed. I got this one, even though I don't like the violet pink color as well as Ellen's Blue color, because it doesn't make seed. At my age, I'm trying to make gardening as easy as possible. Ellen's Blue does make seeds, you have to dead head a lot, but that's its only draw back. It's a wonderful size, and those LONG, nearly true blue blooms are to die for. Just Google Ellen's Blue butterfly bush, and take your pick, although I'd prefer to order it from a nursery as close to my home as possible, so it won't have to be in the truck too long. Sherry