I tend to be a bit obsessive with my hobbies. For example, I'll read a 600 page book in one day or I'll plant a 80'x30' veggie garden crammed full. . . for only two people and I do ALL the work. Or I record about 20 tv series per week on my DVR. I have a Pringles superstack can FULL of marigold seeds. Now we all know unless I'm seeding an ACRE that I won't ever need that many. I've had to collect every dahlia seed that I possibly can. . . . like I said. Obsessive. I don't see me stopping at just 25! One newbie question. I want to fill my gallon milk jugs soon with soil. However, if I fill them now and they're in an unheated milk shed (little 10x10' building) until I want to put the seeds in like January, what do I do if the jugs are frozen solid?

Assuming a person has access to gravid females or livestock of whatever species, and a source for a larval food plant they'll use, the only limiting factor in rearing that livestock is how much time, effort and expense you are willing to put into it. IOW, where you live has absolutely nothing to do with it at all, nor which species (worldwide) that you can rear. I have successfully reared livestock in dozens of hotel rooms all over the world, in my RV on road trips as well as at home. Some of the young budding Lepidopterists I helped along even did so in college or military dorms. I often reared generation after generation year-round of some species even when I lived in the deep snow country of the Rocky Mountains with no "local" plants available. So if you have the desire, don't let your small space deter you from rearing. Just start small, one or two species, and keep numbers manageable for you. Cut plant works just fine for rearing using simple techniques. Either collected "wild" as needed, or many species of it can be kept fresh for many months at home in your refrigerator if prepared right. I've written how more than once in other threads so I'll not include it again here. Some basic starting info on rearing is in the FAQ section here and a lot more in previous posts. With a little research and reading you'll be on your way. Larry

It definitely was a Pipevine Swallowtail. Had one in yard today and was able to get a close look--although it didn't linger long in one place like the monarch does. I remembered that my Birds and Blooms books also have BF pics and with that and my binoculars I was able to make a positive ID. I also had a Red Admiral earlier today and yesterday a Painted Lady!! Can you tell I am excited?!!! Also, thanks Misssherry for recommending the books. I found both at Barnes and Nobles and decided on the Lifecycles of BF by Burris and Richards. Loved the other one and it's on my list for next time. (Might have gotten a better price at Amazon but couldn't wait!) Then I'll have to have the David Wagner book, I'm sure! Thanks everyone for all the great info!

Yup, Ima, that's it! Good detective work. It's bigger than the ones I liked right off the bat, but the band is fairly narrow and square shouldered (like me - LOL) so is actually properly proportioned to my hands and their shape. I had it for a few days, and now it's in for sizing. It's going to need some pretty major reconstruction (3 sizes too big) so it's gone for quite awhile :( I saw my sister and my grandpa and a few friends while I had it though! I think I'll wear my great-grandma's opal ring in the meantime so my hand isn't so lonely. JNM - about the wedding planning - we've chosen February and I have some venue phone calls to make on Wednesday. We're just doing close family and a few close friends. So if everyone comes, brings a date, and their kids, it would be 41 adults and 8 kids. If only the people currently in relationships bring dates, it will be 33 adults. So that's pretty tiny. We'll be doing ceremony, supper, toasts and mini-dance with our tiny group, probably at a hotel (hopefully the one with the beautiful stone atrium full of tropical plants). Then we'll have an open house the next day for the more extended family and friends to join us. It will be a come-and-go tea style thing (like is often done for 25th or 50 anniversaries) at our home. A__ will most likely be sort of a junior groomsman / senior ringbearer. He's too old to be a ring bearer, and too young to be a groomsman, so we think he will come in with and stand beside the groomsmen, and hand us the rings. So the vision is coming together... Even if nothing is booked and concrete yet. My bridesmaids (my sister and a dear friend) live in other towns, so I might drive a couple hours this weekend to do some dress shopping with the friend. My sister is 8 and a half months pregnant right now, so she won't be too involved in the legwork part of planning for awhile :) Since we're doing small and simple for the guest list and venue, I think my dress will be also small and simple. Who knows what I will like when I try on, but the dresses that jump out at me online are mostly like http://www.houseofbrides.com/product.php?productid=22816&cat=536&page=3 or like http://www.houseofbrides.com/product.php?productid=22256&cat=462&page=1 More than one layer of soft fabric usually works better on me than one layer of heavier fabric, but we'll see what I like when I start shopping. That's all I know so far :) (Oh, and I will wear my mom's pearls and use open blooms in my beautiful old teacups as centerpieces - but I knew that part before I knew the groom)