terrene, I found a lot of information on line. There seems to be a bit of conflicting information regarding common names and growth zones so I'm not certain if there are two plants that can be confused with each other or what. It is a new to me plant, too. I ordered seeds from an on line vendor and I think I have what will be a smallish tree shrub type plant. I have two growing and they're doing very well for me. If the butterflies like it, I'll try more next year if I can find space to grow them. One of the things that attracted me was the rate of growth and the fact they supposedly bloom over a long season (for nectar) plus also do double duty as a host plant. I will treat them as annuals here in my zone 7b. Look at the third photo down on this page: Giant Swan Milkweed plant Try googling some of the following terms and you'll find a wealth of information on this plant. Gomphocarpus physocarpus = Asclepias physocarpa Family : Apocynaceae (Num-Num Family) Subfamily : Asclepiadoideae (Asclepiads or milkweeds) some Common names : balloon milkweed, balloon wild cotton, hairy balls milkweed, giant swan milkweed Mary Here is a link that might be useful: Photo of the seed pod on this plant

Yes, Msrpaul, I was referring to cilantro. Good to know that they wont eat it before I buy it. I have always wonderered if a caterpillar would be reluctant to switch from one food to another, but dont want to try it! I was thinking that, too, about those plants being unsprayed, MissSherry. And if there was one big caterpillar, maybe there were others that ate the parsley.

Chris, you nailed it! No name-tags, no positive ID. The best way to know if you're seeing the same couple is through behavior. Once you have a couple for a couple for a year or more (here in Atlanta they stay year round and I feed meal worms year round) then you get used to certain things about them that are unlike a "stranger." My first female was tiny, much smaller than any other female I've seen, so she was easy to ID. Her mate loved to dive bomb me and so I knew him by that behavior. Also, if you feed meal worms and your blues are used to the feeder and then you have an adult that is clueless about using a meal worm feeder, you can be pretty sure it's a new bluebird. Since you are in NH this might be their first brood of the season. You can expect another one. Often times (most of the time in my case) they do come back to the same box and renest about a week or two after the babies fledge. So, when these fledge get that box cleaned out and ready for the next nesting. :-) Janie

I wanted to add one more thing,I always recommend having 2 houses up,just in case a HOSP comes along,That way the Blues will always have another house to go to ,rather then leaving the area,If there is a HOSP trying to use one of my houses ,The Blues can go to the other,while I deal with the HOSP.I never let a HOSP hang around too long,before I trap him,I have found that many times even after you get the HOSP,the Blues will not return to the house(during that season) were they had a confrontation with a HOSP.Just something to think about,That is what I have found works for me.If a HOSP does show up,He is my number 1 priority.