What gorgeous images, Karen, and congrats! Some people wait a few years to see butterflies actually take advantage of their host plants. MissSherry, my Lantana 'Miss Huff' has not shown any signs of regrowth from the roots yet. I know it is always late, and we have had a very cool off again/on again spring. I still don't know if it is dead or alive.... Susan

Sandy, Yes, I know what you mean about being spoiled by the nice weather. This has been our warmest October on record, I think. Most days it's been about 15-20 degrees above normal for this time of the year. Hey, I wouldn't care if it would stay like this all winter, but I know it won't. Some colder weather is headed our way soon. We're supposed to get rain today. I'm not ready for the cold either. I don't like the winter. Sandywhy, I bet you were really thrilled to see the buckeye. I think they are one of the prettiest butterflies. Yes, snapdragons are a host plant of theirs. I've read on here that the small ones are the ones they like to lay their eggs on. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. I had snapdragons planted last year and this year. No butterflies go to them for nectar, but they sure have pretty flowers. I'd plant them even if I weren't trying to attract buckeyes. If you neighbor has snapdragons, then that's probably why there were so many buckeyes over there. Yes, blue vervain (Verbena hastata is a host plants for hem. Here's what I have listed as being host plants for the Common Buckeye: - Snapdragon family, Scrophulariaceae - Plaintain family, Plantaginaceae - Vervain family, Verbenaceae Wild Foxglove (Agalinis fasciculata) Twinflower (Dyschoriste spp.) Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniana) Thickleaf Wild Petunia (Ruellia succulenta) Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) Owl's Clover (Orthocarpus spp.) Narrowleaf Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) Narrowleaf Plantain (Plantago major) Monkey Flower (Mimulus) Snapdragon, Toadflax (Linaria), Buddleia Paintbrush Gerardia (Agalinus tenuifolia) Angelonia angustifolia (summer snapdragon) Someone please correct me if I'm wrong about any of these. Cathy

That's great! I had so many Black Swallowtails last year, that I left them on their own last year. They stripped all of my Fennel, Zizia, and Rue twice. But, of course, that's what I grow it for. Tiger Swallowtails are known to use Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana), and Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) in Oklahoma. Re: Parsley plants. Just make sure there have been no chemicals sprayed or systemics used on them, or, if you're not sure, you can segregate for at least 30 days before allowing the egg-laying mamas access to the plants. It is unlikely that an herb plant would be sprayed, by I always err on the side of caution. Otherwise, the caterpillars will likely die from ingesting the toxins. That happened to Lisa last year, and it is so devastating. My fennel and Rue are ready for eggs, as is the False Nettle for the Red Admirals, milkweed for the Monarchs, Elm and Hops vine for the Question Marks, Hackberry for the Hackberry and Tawny Emperors, Baptisia australis 'minor' for the Wild Indigo Duskywings, a bit of pipevine for the Pipevine Swallowtails, Honeysuckle for the Snowberry Clearwing moths, Plaintain for the Buckeyes, Rue for the Giant Swallowails, as well as the Black. I hope I get some butterflies now. I rescued 4 baby Hackberry Emperor caterpillars and put them in a container to raise, and they are doing fine. These guys overwinter as caterpillars by making little nests in the foliage in the fall, the leaves drop to the base of the trees, and in spring, the little guys climb up to the newly emerging foliage to continue eating. Fascinating. Good luck with your chrysalises! Susan

TY, jane__ny. I've read horror stories from other folks, too, who purchased an emergency pot of milkweed for their 4-5th instar cats, only to find them all dead the next day. I can't even imagine. The two little guys seem to be doing fine now (moving, nibbling, growing...dropping poop-lets!). At least now I know what to expect in the early days with SWTs. ^^^ ~ 1/4" -- click to enlarge. I'm going to get some dill seeds germinating, in anticipation for feeding the next wave. At least I'll be assured of the plant source. :) The 1/2" cat I brought home earlier this week has almost tripled in size (yay! simply beautiful) and I'm snipping branches off the main plant several times daily.