Randy, beautiful picture and congrats. It's so good to see that butterflies are appearing for some of you. It'll be awhile yet up here in CT since its always cold and windy. But for some reason I thought that your little beauty was a female, not a male. Our male BSTs here have a lot more yellow on the wings. Anyone? Maaryann in Ct

Yes, I have noticed that the trees, bushes, and some vines are starting to come out. The dreaded Bradford pears are blooming. My crabapples and peach trees are starting to bud. The WB cherry trees are starting to put out new leaves. I was shocked to see my hops vines are already starting to come up!!! And, the Salvia greggii and Black and Blues are starting to come out. I think that I found some Frostweed seedlings around the plant that bloomed for the 1st time last year! I do love spring! I'll be so glad when the nasty, squaking, food hogging Red-winged black birds leave. They are such a nuisance! I can't believe that they are some people's favorite bird!!! They usually leave when it starts to get hot.

I saw my first Monarch yesterday and collected 12 eggs. I now have 8 BTS cats and about 30 BST eggs. I know how excited you are as it is fnally BF season in my backyard as well. Kathy

Wont be a next year :( I just found out this week the Butterfly Encounter is basically closing. They let the director go and there will be no charge for it. I was there yesterday and it has turned into a day care center almost. People leaving their children there. Very sad :( Last year's festival was great. Rick Mikula for the 2nd year showed up for all 3 days and UF professor/curators. Was another great festival that will never happen again in Orlando.