Happy Birthday Shannon! What a nice present! I've got to admit, I didn't hold out much hope for that caterpillar, not just because of the rough handling, but because it was outside until it was ready to pupate so there's a greater chance of disease or parasites. Glad to hear everything turned out well. I've raised a bunch of Black Swallowtails and can't remember how long it took for them to emerge.

They look great and I'm glad I could help. I agree with your wife. Get them the &*%$ out of the house! lol I can't stand the smell inside. Even when I have them on the lower level I can smell them two floors above and my nose isn't that sensitive but I do love their fragrance outside. If you have the space to keep your cuttings potted up I'd do that but I keep cuttings in water all winter without much of a problem. The utility room or crawlspace sound fine. If you are going to use an aquarium just make sure they don't get too much water because there's no drainage.

Well, I had enough to make another block, but having enough for a border is another story, time to redesign, rethink, replan. Sorta like life, isn't it?? We have all these plans then reality sets in. Just got back from a mini-vacation at the beach. First time we've gone off somewhere with the kids and two youngest grandkids. Sanibel Island is a paradise, but Good Grief it was hot! And I was wrong in thinking it would be slow there since it's middle of summer and there has been this oil scare, that place was so busy! I have noticed that there are a lot of Europeans that come here in off season, though, they take nice vacations but they also economize when they do. Florida beaches are a Mecca for Europeans in the summer. We used to go there almost every year and then got away from it for awhile, the place has changed since we were last there in 2001. The hurricanes in 2004 took out almost all of those huge trees that lined the main drag there, but they have re-landscaped and it's very pretty. Also they have planted the beaches with a lot of native beach plants that they didn't have as much of before to try to prevent beach erosion.

It seems to be working.