Yes, Michigan Bulb Company is where I sent for my "100 Privet Hedge for $25", back in 1979. What I got was a bundle of bare rooted STICKS 6" to 1' each! Was there a hundred in the bundle, I don't remember counting them; but I do remember my Mom and I planting all those little sticks all the way down my property line. Sometimes putting two in a hole because they were so small. However, today the hedge is huge albeit old and still puts out new growth every year. I haven't ordered from them since that I can remember. Plus they give fantastic, imaginary names for plants/flowers that most gardeners know is not the true names. Can't understand why people fall for that.

Silverkelt..Somebody gave me two pots of Silene(Pink)and the only name I could find was Silene Armeria. Now yours looks so similar. Do you by any chance have a photo of the plant in full bloom or a close up of foliage and blooms that I can compare with mine. Whatever the name, I want more of it next year. I think Select Seed catalog has some in it. The one plant finished blooming and I deadheaded it and sprinkled the seeds on top of the ground but didn't work them in. Do you think they'll come up? Select seeds shows it as an annual but says it reseeds..Maybe I should take some potting mix and put into nursery pot and sprinkle some dried seeds of it in there and cover lightly and see what happens.

Always love your pictures Sherry. The Battus are magnificent, and your Pentas are beautiful. With so many species/subspecies over so many years its kind of hard to pick a favorite. All of them seeked out, studied and reared were very enjoyable experiences. I guess since the Parnassiini where the first tribe I seriously studied to learn and discover the life histories of, they are probably still my favorites. Out of all of them I especially like the Parnassius autocrator complex from the Pamir Mountains in Afganistan and Tajikistan. For the North American species it's hard to beat the Parnassius eversmanni thor in Alaska.

There is a thread on the perennials forum where somebody posted a study showing that the Lilliput Zinnias attracted the most butterflies. I will have to give them a try, although I don't care for the fully double pom-pom type flowers. Anyway, every year I grow a swath of the tall cultivars of Zinnia elegans like Cut & Come again, State Fair, California Giants, and Scarlet Flame. They are largely single and semi-double flowers, which supposedly the butterflies prefer because the they have a cone in the middle to hang onto, and easy access to the nectar tubes. But I have heard people say they like the Magellan and Benary Giants too. Very easy to direct sow once the soil warms up and they grow fast. I grow them in a slightly different spot each year, to prevent mildew and fungus. The bees and hummers also love them! See the thread below for some of my pics and others. Here is a link that might be useful: Butterflies on.... Zinnias