I did enjoy. That is one amazing link. The best part is that I have some shutters. Thank goodness I didn't give them away. I usually find a use for something after its gone. I used one pair to make a faux window on my little barn shed. (That took a lot of imagination..not) Thank you for sharing. - Marylee

jmcat - Pretty simple really once you begin to understand taxonomic nomenclature, genetics and natural evolution. Papilio polyxenes polyxenes is the nominate form... and Papilio polyxenes asterius is one of it's named subspecies. So some confusion is common when listings lump any bug into a generalized species name like this by not including the next subordinate level of classification if they are assigned - subspecies. Subspecies are named usually because they differ from the nominate form for any of several possible reasons (environment/habitat, isolation, distribution, etc) to where they have evolved into a slightly different bug than the nominate form. In this case the range of the nominate form is Cuba, and except for possible strays it probably doesn't intergrade naturally with the subspecies of it found in their own ranges outside of Cuba, while the subspecies who do have over-lapping ranges probably do intergrade naturally. Hmmm, maybe in better laymanÂs terms, the P. p. polyxenes nominate form is mostly isolated in Cuba. So the named subspecies of it are probably the result of strays of the nominate species that established new colonies outside Cuba or a result of ancestral land mass separations that isolated them from each other. Kind of a reverse isolation I guess in that those colonies not continually strengthened by the nominate form gene pool have evolved into subspecies that differ from the nominate species. Probably as clear as mud, but hopefully at least starts to answer your question. L.

Yes, Blue Yew, it is. Ken - the even was the American Conifer Society Northeast Region Field Day in Bucks County PA. Click the link for more info. It was a truly spectacular day and a mind-boggling introduction to the conifer world for me. The people were welcoming, friendly and happy to share information. If you are interested in seeing breath-taking gardens like this one and meeting truly inspiring people, I would absolutely suggest joining the ACS and becoming active in your local region. The next outing for this group is going to be in the Danbury CT area and a few of the gardens on the tour have been shown on the Martha Stewart Show and highlighted in Fine Gardening magazine. I cannot wait! Anyway, thanks for looking I tried to get lots of different views, but the photos pale by comparison to standing there and seeing the real thing. Alexa

Oohh, loved this. I showed my DH and he immediately went to check it out. Thanks!