I saw a baby last week as well, love to see them, but hate what they do to my garden. They leave the cactus alone for the most part, but they will try to eat the flowers. I've noticed nibbles on the jades and the orchid cactus, though. Other than spikey cactus, the only thing they don't seem to have eaten yet is anything in the mint family or butterfly weed. Everything else will at least get a taste and like a great white shark taste, the results are usually just as fatal or at the very least, quite disfiguring. And I agree that if it isn't deer, then it's gophers, moles, voles or magpies........

Friends of the Garden 2nd Annual Butterfly Festival Saturday, July 24, 10 am - 4 pm Sunday July 25, 11 am - 4 pm Close Memorial Gardens at Nathanael Greene Park In the Butterfly House The expanded Bill Roston Butterfly House lets you get an up-close look at native butterflies as they lay eggs and transform from egg to caterpillar, from caterpillar to chrysalis, and finally from chrysalis to butterfly! Our guides will help answer your butterfly questions. In the Butterfly Garden Explore a garden of host plants for caterpillars and butterflies. This garden showcases plants to attract an amazing variety of butterflies to the home landscape. Chase a butterfly or two and pick up some ideas to try at home! In the Park Take a tour of the botanical gardens! Get friendly with live animals at the Caterpillar Petting Zoo! Make your own Butterfly & Caterpillar Crafts! Learn about Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening! Shop for Butterfly Host Plants, Art, and Garden Accents! Free Tram Service Tram stops pick up from the main parking lot at the Rose Garden and the Dr. Bill Roston Butterfly House. The tram makes a loop around the northern edge of Lake Drummond, then east toward the Dr. Bill Roston Butterfly House. It continues along the northern edge of Close Park near the site of the new 4.3 million dollar Botanical Center, which will open in October 2010, and back toward the parking lot. Saturday, July 24 Festival Activities and Butterfly House Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class Offerings 10:00 Butterfly Photography Pick up expert tips and tricks for your own butterfly photos. 11:00 Butterfly Identification Get to know your backyard visitors. 1:00 Gardening for Butterflies Learn to attract butterflies to your home landscape. 2:00 Butterfly Photography Pick up expert tips and tricks for your own butterfly photos. Sunday, July 25 Festival Activities and Butterfly House Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Class Offerings 1:00 Butterfly Identification Get to know your backyard visitors. 1:00 Butterfly Photography Pick up expert tips and tricks for your own butterfly photos. 2:30 Gardening for Butterflies Learn to attract butterflies to your home landscape. For more information visit: www.friendsofthegarden.org Location (see map below) Nathanael Greene Park & Close Memorial Gardens 2400 S. Scenic Ave Admission Butterfly Festival admission and all activities are free of charge. Directions Nathanael Greene and Close Memorial Parks are located at 2400 S. Scenic Avenue in Springfield, Missouri. Parking Parking is accessible from Scenic Avenue and is located on the west and north sides of the park. Follow signs and guides for festival parking. Tram service to the Butterfly House is available. Also in the Park The Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is open FREE during the Butterfly Festival from 9:00 am-7:30 pm Participating Vendors: Design Specialties, LLC Earthworks Design and Creations  Gladewinds  Global Fayre Hand Painted Garden Accents by Debbie Cushing  Inspirations by Claudia  Naturally Photography  O'Quinn's Water Gardens  Peggy's Flowers  Springfield Hot Glass Studio  Wickman's Garden Village  The Botany Shop Special Thanks to: Missouri Department of Conservation  Springfield Public Works  Discovery Center of Springfield  Southwest Missouri Camera Club  Cherry Court Garden Club  Master Gardeners of Greene County  The Botanical Society of Southwest Missouri  Springfield Greene County Parks and Recreation  Gray-Campbell Farmstead  Theta Steinert and Steinert's Inc. Greenhouse and Gardens  Our Dedicated Volunteers Friends of the Garden is dedicated to establishing and facilitating the Botanical Center & Gardens at Close Memorial/Nathanael Greene Park to inspire the discovery, understanding, and appreciation of nature. Become a Friend of the Garden at friendsofthegarden.org

Oh there is tons of food for them. They climb right up to the feeders and I have a squirrel feeder they go into. Last year I had six. I don't think the babies have showed up yet.I think an Armadillo would be a nice treat or even a racoon. Haven't got either and I know most people do not like racoons. When the Saskatoons are ripe these little guys climb all over the bushes to get them

Thanks ladies, Glad to be back. I see a few of the old names are still here, so "hi" to all. Due to ill health I had to let a lot of my garden go but there are a few things that I can take photos of around the place Like most other places it's been so dry. Not good for the garden !!! Posting again shortly. Cheers, Margaret.