No, that is something else. Could be a hairstreak butterfly species because they are leafrollers, but more likely it's something nondescript. The hawk or sphinx moths bury themselves in the ground, form a cocoon, and pupate for a couple of weeks. You probably won't come across a pupating sphinx unless you are digging somewhere and find one. If your sphinx hornworm cats have left the plant, they have probably gone off to either pupate or change instars (shed their old skin), in which case they will return to finish eating. Caterpillars that roll leaves as a shelter in which to feed are not usually good to keep around unless you know that particular butterfly or moth is associated with that particular host plant. In this case, it is probably some kind of generalist moth (meaning it feeds on about anything and everything). I would open the leaf. I just kind of grasp the end of the leaf and carefully unroll it and look inside. If it were something the grape family (like grape ivy, Virginia Creeper, porcelain vine), it could be a grapeleaf roller - a pretty little black moth white polka dots. Since it's on 4 o'clock, I'm not sure what it is - possibly some kind of geometrid or noctuid moth. Susan

My growing season last year was from March 28th to November 29th which is about 230 -240 growing days (the ocean and heat island effect helps keep frost from hitting as frequently as other areas). TOn average my growing season is from April 10th to November 10th which is around 180 days (give or take. But just because my growing season is about the same as yours, or maybe a bit longer, doesnt mean its better, since my growing season is definitely cooler than yours on average). Mine is in a full sun (During the summer it gets sun from about 11am to 6pm). The duration of cold during the winter here is longer though so I think that could be one problem (windmill palms do seem to handle cool temperatures better than sabals which might be one reason why I have more success with windmills than Sabals). One thing I should mention is I have my Sabal a bit above the actual ground level which might make the roots a bit more vulnerable to cold (and heat) and it also stays drier for that same reason. You are much closer to Sabal minor's native range than I am so Im sure that your soil type and temperatures are more similar to what they want. Good luck! -Alex

This is the current list of attendees. Jennifer in VA Teresa in NC Fran (from MA) Sunnycentralfl (Gwen) Grammyp (Beverly & DH) Colleen (Colleen & Beth, daughter & quilter) Noocha (Linda & DH) Georgia (& baby) So far that's: 9 quilters 2 husbands 1 baby Georgia, got your check today. Thanks These are the types of rooms available: 1 queen bed 1 queen bed + bunk beds 2 twins I have room preference from Georgia (1 queen) & Linda (2 beds). Linda~ Which would your preference be for 2 beds? Everyone else, can you please let me know which type of room you'd like? If you are traveling alone, also let me know if you'd like a roommate (which lowers the individual's cost). First come, first served on preferences...

Dear Kat_Wa: I am in agreement for the most part for the route that you have picked. The most unpredictable part is I-80 through Wyoming. This is an easy route when the roads are clear, and it is a main trucker's route between Chicago and the west coast. A major snowstorm can close this highway for several days. When a snowfall overwhelms Wyoming's plowing equipment, they close major highways. I-80 across Nebraska is flat and boring. If you pick up a stiff tail wind, you could coast all the way across. LOL. The remainder of the route from Lincoln, NE to Rio Grande, OH has no mountains or significat hills. major grades are caused by rolling landscape and dips into large river basins. You can handily avoid I-80 in the south side of Chicago and I advise you do so. I-80 south of Chicago and across the top Indiana is crowded with trucks and speeders. it can be a fast trip under good conditions, but can turn into a parking lot on short order. A jack-knifed truck 30 miles north of I-80 in Chicago can create a traffic backup that extends all the way back to the Illinois-Indiana border. The route that I would try is: 1. From Wasington State, take I-84 to Salt Lake City, UT. 2. At Salt Lake City, check the road conditions of I-80 through Wyoming. If open, ok, but if closed, either wait it out or find an alternate route across the Rockies. 3. I-80 east through Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa crossing the Mississippi River at Davenport/Bettendorf. 4. Immediately after crossing the Mississippi river, take I-74 south to Galesburg, IL. 5. I-74 turns east at Galesburg. Continue on I-74 to Indianapolis, IN. 6. Change to I-70 east at Indianapolis to Dayton, OH. 7. At Dayton, change to US-36 / I-36 and follow this to Rio Grande, OH. About 50% of this part is interstate. Get a detailed map of Dayton and plan a route either around or through Dayton whichever is your preference. Without a navigator at your side, the non-thinking and easiest route is to stay on I-70, then South on I-675 to US-35. This route is east of Dayton and totally avoids the city, but adds about a 5 mile backtrack. More about Wyoming: Wyoming is a high plains state with part of the the rocky mountains passing through it. The lowest elevation in the state is about 3600 ft at its SE corner. The last time I was along I-80 (several years ago) I found motels at Rock Srings and Cheyenne. When you first enter the state, you may see a set of huge gate arms beside the road akin to a railroad crossing. These are for closing the road. Its too bad this is not a pleasure trip. You are passing nearby a number of historical locations. Rock Island Arsenal, IL - site of a Civil War prison. There is a cemetery on the Island holding a large number of Confederate Soldiers. Many soldiers died at this camp from disease. Small pox ran rampant. Prisoners were taken upstream to a limestone quarry and there they cut stone used to construct some of the early permanent buildings at the arsenal. At my last count, some of these building were still standing and in use. Galesburg, IL - Home of Robert Frost. He was born in a garage sized house. Monmouth, IL - Birthplace of Wyatt Erp. Dixon, IL - Boyhood home of Nixon. Black Hawk War 1832 - Many sites and many of these forgotten. This war began in Northern IL, then into Wisconsin and westward through WI to the Mississippi river at the confluence of the Bad Axe river where the final masacre of Black Hawk's band occured. President Lincoln mania - Although Abe Lincoln was not born in Illinois, he grew up in Illinois and spent his early adulthood in IL, and was largely self taught. he was a 23 yr old store clerk when the Black Hawk war broke out. Lincoln was a Captain for 1 month in that war. He was elected Captain by winning a wrestling match. However, he voluntered for more terms serving in a position similar to assistant quartermaster. Vincennes, IN The site of Fort Sackville, the place where the French surrendered to a tired, rag tag group of US explorers. The leader of the group produced a sham to trick the French into surrendering. He knew that he had little chance of winning an outright battle and had to cross the Big Wabash River to engage the enemy. So waht did he do? at nightfall, he spread out his men into a number of groups, possibly as many as ten. There were only a few men per group, but the opponent did not know this. Each group kept a campfire buring all night giving an impression that an army was encamped on the river. Early, the next morning before his ruse could be discovered, he crossed the river under a white flag and demanded the French to surrender. The French's main object was fur trade, not make battle so they complied. After the surrender, the French leader asked to see a show of the troops hidden on the other side of the river, and when he saw how few it were, he became angry, but he was already under guard. Illinois and Indiana high schools are noted for basketball, not football. Dayton, OH - Wright Brothers. Parke County, IN - has 30 covered bridges. These are not as picturesque as those in Vermont and New Hampshire, but this is a lagre collection for one county. Ohio has covered bridges also. Battelle Memorial Institute at Columbus, OH. This institute helped to develop the Xerox process and accepted shares in the fledging company for payment. Nauvoo, IL - The site of an early Mormon town. They were attacked and then decided to leave. This was the beginning of their mass migration to Salt Lake City, UT. When they left their homes, some did a complete abandonment by leaving their houses unlocked and the front doors open. Because of this persucation, there are two Oregon trails in Nebraska: the main trail on the south side of the Platte River and the Mormon trail on the north side of the river. They took the less traveled side of the river to avoid fights and unpleasant encounters.