Silverkelt..Somebody gave me two pots of Silene(Pink)and the only name I could find was Silene Armeria. Now yours looks so similar. Do you by any chance have a photo of the plant in full bloom or a close up of foliage and blooms that I can compare with mine. Whatever the name, I want more of it next year. I think Select Seed catalog has some in it. The one plant finished blooming and I deadheaded it and sprinkled the seeds on top of the ground but didn't work them in. Do you think they'll come up? Select seeds shows it as an annual but says it reseeds..Maybe I should take some potting mix and put into nursery pot and sprinkle some dried seeds of it in there and cover lightly and see what happens.

Jrcagle yep i was thinking that also, #7-#10 did look like a hairstreak, it did have the little "hairs" at the end of the wings. The pics were taken along a forest roadside in Trinidad. Thanks larry, it is indeed similar to Chlosyne lacinia. But there arent much information on the internet or pictures about these tropical butterflies. Im gonna check out the book butterflies of trinidad and tobago at the library and see what information i get about these butterflies. Finding the host plants is sometimes a challenge, but i usually go out there and observe plants that have caterpillars on them. then figure out what the caterpillars are. Ive found quite a few varieties of species passiflora which are host plants by looking for which butterflies would lay eggs on them or what caterpillars are on them. Right now im also searching for the morpho peleides host plant which i know is in the mucuna family. Although i have no idea which variety of mucuna they feed on or what it looks like, i know what the caterpillars look like, so its down to finding them on the host plant. Siam.

Jean, these are some very nice pictures of the butterfly. Sometimes they will sit still long enough to get a good picture, but most of the time I get frustrated or have to take a gazillion pictures to get one good one! Cherry Valentine is so aptly named and both it and WOIA are pretty! Nancy, I believe the yellow and black caterpillars are monarch butterflies. I have butterfly weed that is just now coming up and love to watch the caterpillars, even though the plant looks bad when they are done:) Vickie

You know, I have no idea when I got that cactus but, I pretty am sure it was at the last trade that GGG hosted which, I believe was in 2007. It was so small, I was afraid to leave it outside for winter the first two years so it sat in the greenhouse. Last year I left it, in the pot you see, with a couple other plants to test their hardiness. Those that survived the cold and rain got good marks and are allowed to remain in my collection. I am tired of transplanting so many marginal and sub-tropicals each year and have decided to reduce my inventory to more hardy specimens. That Lizard's Tail(Saururus cernuus)is a naturally occuring(in the southeast) wetlands plant and considered to be invasive in certain areas although, quite easily managed in one's garden. It has taken four years to create a small stand of a dozen or so plants from a single plant. Not what I would call aggressive. Crepping Jenny does fine in our full sun and 90°+ temps. I water a lot so, I don't notice much wilting in the afternoon. The Flame Azelea is a "Rescued Plant" from a construction site on top of Burnt Mountain in Jasper, Ga. Several color variations grow wild there. It blooms well for a few weeks and then fades. The blooms fall of as they mature. I have it planted under the canopy of a large Red Oak in almost pure compost mixed with masonry sand. The Yarrow is a super close up. The camera lens was maybe four inches from the plant which, gives a deceptive appearance to the size of the flowers. I like the close ups because you see more of the structure of the flower, like the wishbone stamens in the Torenias which are commonly named 'Wishbone Flower' for this reason. I have all three colors of Yarrow together in one location. The Torenia have become one of my favorite annuals because they tolerate a good deal of shade but, can take full sun in pots as long as they remain somewhat moist(but more tolerant then Begonias and Impatiens). I am currently looking for the white variety in stores to fil in a dark area in a mostly shaded spot that only sees the sun after 5:00. Your Butterfly 'bushlet' is taking a rest in the greenhouse awaiting for a spot to be determined. I don't like transplanting some items from trades imediantly that look like stress could do them in. It has been too hot and I am going on vacation for a week and can't depend on it being left on it's own. Also, I am wary to put it too close to the 'Honycomb' Buddleia since, it is now about 5 feet across and 7 feet tall, and must choose wisely where it will have the room it will eventually require. I want the two close but, not intertwined and plan to use them as screening from neighbors. Hope that answers ALL of you questions.