This year I created a new bed for veggies. I've been flat out, so I just dug holes for the veggies, added compost and planted. Did not till the soil or bother weeding in between the veggies/herbs. Then, after we had a good soaking 3 inch rain and the ground was nice and wet, I spread wet newspaper in between all the plants, and then spread a couple inches of compost over the newspaper. I may add straw or grass clippings as a final tidy mulch, but the compost looks pretty good. The newspapers were about 4-8 sheets thick, I don't really fuss too much about that. The pile of newspapers had sat out for several weeks, and got good and wet. Discovered that it's much easier to work with when it's damp!

Here's my list, Sherry. You have some I haven't had in my yard. We've raised some of the same ones and some different ones. You have definitely "out raised" me when it comes to Moths! I've raised a maximum of 10 different moths. 1. Battus philenor* 2. Papilio polyxenes* 3. Papilio troilus * 4. Papilio cresphontes* 5. Papilio glaucus* 6. Pontia protodice (saw my first one today for this yr.) 7. Pieris rapae 8. Colias philodice 9. Colias eurythemje Colias cesonia Phoebis sennae* Eurema lisa Eurema nicippe Dainty Sulfur Atlides halesus Strymon melinus Calycopis cecrops Hemiargus isola Everes comyntas Celastrina neglecta (Photographed 1st in BY yesterday!) Libytheana carinenta Agraulis vanillae* Euptoieta claudia* Speyeria cybele Chlosyne lacinia Chlosyne gorgone* Chlosyne nycteis* Phyciodes texana Phyciodes phaon Phyciodes tharos* Polygonia interrogationis* Nymphalis antiopa Vanessa virginiensis* Vamessa cardui* Vanessa atalanta* (found a cat this week) Junonia coenia* Limenitis arthemis astyanax Limenitis archippus Anaea andria Asterocampa celtis* (found a cat this week) Hermeuptychia sosybius Cercyonis pegala Danaus plexippus* Damais gilippus* Epargyreus clarus Achalarus lyciades Thorybes bathyllus Erynnis horatius Erynnis funeralis Pyrgus communis Pholisora catullus Lerema accius Hylephila phyleus Polites themistocles Atalopedes campestris Atrytone arogos Anatrytone logan Poanes zabulon Euphyes vestris Amblyscirtes nysa Amblyscirtes belli Lerodea eufala Problema byssus *Erynnis juvenalis - I have 3 larvae that match the picture in David Wagner's book. I am raising them on Oak leaves. I won't know for sure until next spring as to whether this is the correct ID. Could be E horatius. Color matches the E juvenalis, though. Sandy

Hello, all! As a newbie, may I say that cardboard works just fine. The first year I was here I double-dug a plot for veggies. A LOT of work! Then I read "Lasagna Gardening" and have been using wet newspaper or cardboard boxes ever since. And this is a WILD piece of land. Cut back what brush/saplings I can and then cover with cardboard, leaves, peat, grass clippings and compost. Plant right down in the layers, putting a bit of potting soil in the hole, then mulching the whole thing again after watering. (May also put some potting soil or compost on top to plant seeds.) I use rocks from the creek for borders, or small tree trunks that were in the way of my garden progress. Have made three herb beds, two large perennial beds and one veggie bed this way. No more digging!

Hi Cliss! No they don't smell off...They're just turning really pale from the bottom up and are looking really weak. I am going to water them when dry for a while and check if the roots regain their color and strengthen up again. That's great you have a variegated in hydro and doing well! Fingers are crossed Cliss! Mine apparently were doing great with the extra water...They were putting up new pups, all looked great from the top. Oh well... Take care Cliss! Hi Karen! Thank you for letting us know that yours still have good color in hydro! I have mine in small pumice stones instead of leca stones, the pot might be retaining too much water for passive hydro... Maybe the roots are too suffocated with the small pumice and all the water... I am going to change the pumice to a larger size and ease on the watering for a while. After the roots strengthen I might give passive hydro another shot with the larger pumice stones and see if it makes a difference... Thank you Karen! Take care!