Well, the vet saw her and checked her out a few weeks ago and thought everything was good, He did the TB and brucelosis tests and of corse they were both negative. I think it is coming soon, I think it is simply that she was a pasture cow that ran with bull and there was no reason for the owner then to worry, or pay attention to breeding just took them as they came. We on the other hand have no other cows and are a little too worried about this one. She wishes we would get a life!! Driving her crazy I think. Well, I guess jerseys are not really thin, but you know their frame work always shows more bones than the beefers. I have to admit I like to look at a fat cow, very well conditioned. I don't want anyone thinking I am starving her. She gets all she wants of hay/grass, and I am now increasing her feed, I have been worried about letting the baby get too big. My suggested we didn't feed her any sweet feed till after the baby, he changed his recomendation when I reminded him that she was going to be a milk cow and was still in training. We keep her on a regular schedule and feeding her in her milking chute is part of her routine. He raises beef cows, likes to see them fat too, but is wary of calves getting too large for easy delivery.

Yet another good example of how common names don't always point to the right species. In general on this forum "Ladies" refer to the Vanessa complex, which are not in the same Limenitidinae subfamily let along genus as Limenitis lorquini (and they can not hybridize). The common name most often used to refer to L. lorquini (and most of the Limenitidinae) is "Admirals". My guess is by "Lady" you were referring to L. archippus which can hybridize naturally with many sp/ssp of other Limenitis sp/ssp they over-lap ranges with. I worked closely with Dr. Austin Platt at UMBC for a few years while he was doing his hyridization research on NA Limenitidinae, and supplied him with live stock and adults of many of the western sp/ssp. I have many of those lab created hybrids in my synoptic collection, as well as the paper Austin eventually published from the findings. As for the variation from your noninate E. chalcedona... abberants are not all that uncommon in nature. If enough hours are spent in the field by an observant lepidopterists, they will see many of them over the years. Same with gynandromorphs, or even population clines. Several factors can cause them naturally, and most can be duplicated in the lab. Without the bug in hand to inspect for other possible keys, I still will suggest yours in the picture is an abberant. FWIW, there are 8 or 9 recognized subspecies of this bug, so it is a very variable species. That is further proved by your additional pictures of the species from your area and the variations that are easy to see between them. Again, fantastic pictures. Larry

I will post a late fall picture later,Kathy,but it is 31 degrees this morning,and I am not going out there for awhile! Actually,it wasn't that hard putting all those plants in. You understand this wasn't all done in one job? This garden has been under construction since 2006. A few at at a time,I planted them with a hand trowel,over the years. It is about all I can put there now,but they have grown in over the years. Actually some dirt does wash down the hill,but with all the plants there,the soil stays pretty much all the time. I have a Paradigm plant in another part of the garden that get covered with more dirt every year,but it grows so vigorously,it comes back up through it every year. This part of the garden was full of vines and weeds years ago,and I had to clear out all of that before I could even start. I was also 7 years younger then! Things change when you get old! Now,I just add a plant here and there as I find them. Phil

Thanks for the reply. Is starting to think no one had a clue about this rose. Yes the blooms are rather velvety; and it does rebloom if memory serves. I truthfully never really paid roses any attention before this spring.