According to GW records, I joined in March 2001. Shortly after that I placed my first post, looking to trade for white butterfly ginger. Margaret replied, said "no trade necessary, just send me some postage and I'll fill a box with gingers for you". Being new to the board, wanting to impress, (and a bit naive), I sent her $10.00 in postage, expecting a few rhizomes in return. What I received was a massive box filled with some of the most exciting things a new gardener could ever expect. Margaret went out of her way to make sure I was satisfied, even placing the unused postage in the box. That set the bar for me as far as trading/exchanges go, and I've always tried to match or exceed Margaret's standard. "Thank You!" Margaret ("Nigella") for making such a "first impression", for setting my standard when trading, and for that first box of goodies that still stands out in my mind and excites me! You remain one of the best, and I will never forget you or your generosity...promise! Much peace, love and appreciation. Your friend in the garden, Nelson P.S. - is Margaret's friend Jenny(?) still around? Would love to hear from her. She attended one of the first Central Alabama Plant Swaps all the way from Mobile to B'ham and brought a "fortune" of plants that several of us still enjoy growing today! We haven't forgotten her, either.

I just took a tour of my butterfly garden and it appears the deer have no fear of the road. They munched on some coral bells, garden phlox, and asters. I guess I need to move those closer to the house or protect them some how. I hate trying to keep up with spraying repellents, too. I saw my first butterfly! It was a Red Admiral that fluttered by a window and landed very briefly on the sunny brick window ledge. Whatever they like must be in my woods, because they are easily my most common butterfly. My Spicebush survived its first winter and is putting out new leaves. I also got new blueberry bushes and raspberry plants in the ground Sunday. I'm expecting delivery of more raspberry and strawberry plants any day, too. I don't know if deer will eat strawberry plants, but I'd better plan to protect them somehow. The liatris ligualistylis is peaking out, and there are some volunteer seedlings, too. It looks like it might be a wonderful summer, Martha

I'm just new to this myself as of last year. I came on the forum desperately seeking answers on how to raise Monarch cats. I ended up raising 70 of them here. I was really delighted because I didn't expect to get that many. The people on this forum raise the cats to protect them from parasitic wasps and flies and predators that might want to take a bite out of them. I didn't get to one fast enough last year when I was making my daily rounds collecting cats. There was a robber fly on a milkweed plant with a half eaten Monarch cat in its clutches. I think it saw me and it flew off with the other half of it. I believe only a few out of one hundred end up making it to adulthood if left outside on their own to deal with their enemies. Your picture looks like a Black Swallowtail cat on Queen Anne's Lace, if I'm not mistaken. If I'm wrong, I guess someone can correct me. :) Tropical Milkweed is considered a perennial in places like where tdogmom lives (CA), but where you and I live it's an annual. I am growing some this year from seeds that Sherry (tdogmom aka Cal Sherry) sent me. They are doing great and will soon be blooming. I have some that are two feet tall and they are nice sturdy plants. Right now I have mostly all of my potted milkweed plants sitting outside so they get plenty of sun, but I'll probably bring almost all the potted ones inside when I start seeing Monarchs because I already have plenty planted outside in the garden for the females to lay eggs on. By regular milkweed, do you mean the Common Milkweed? I think that grows about everywhere. It's not my preference, though because of the big tough leaves and the milky sticky sap that comes out of the plant when any leaves are removed. I grow Butterfly Weed, Swamp Milkweed, and Tropical Milkweed and they don't do that. I know that people here have mentioned on various occasions that the Tropical Milkweed is the one that the Monarchs prefer. Of course, if you want to have it every year, you would have to save seeds off of the plants since it's only an annual in Michigan. Butterfly Weed and Swamp Milkweed are perennnials. I like all three for their colors and for their butterfly attracting abilities. Cathy

@ The Logician, Fortunately, the hospital is a small, long term care unit, situated in a more open neighborhood, and on top of one of the highest hills in the area. It's quite a wonderful oasis amidst all the concrete. Also, my position in the organization might allow me to expand the butterfly offerings, if I throw my weight around. LOL Martha