I'm just new to this myself as of last year. I came on the forum desperately seeking answers on how to raise Monarch cats. I ended up raising 70 of them here. I was really delighted because I didn't expect to get that many. The people on this forum raise the cats to protect them from parasitic wasps and flies and predators that might want to take a bite out of them. I didn't get to one fast enough last year when I was making my daily rounds collecting cats. There was a robber fly on a milkweed plant with a half eaten Monarch cat in its clutches. I think it saw me and it flew off with the other half of it. I believe only a few out of one hundred end up making it to adulthood if left outside on their own to deal with their enemies. Your picture looks like a Black Swallowtail cat on Queen Anne's Lace, if I'm not mistaken. If I'm wrong, I guess someone can correct me. :) Tropical Milkweed is considered a perennial in places like where tdogmom lives (CA), but where you and I live it's an annual. I am growing some this year from seeds that Sherry (tdogmom aka Cal Sherry) sent me. They are doing great and will soon be blooming. I have some that are two feet tall and they are nice sturdy plants. Right now I have mostly all of my potted milkweed plants sitting outside so they get plenty of sun, but I'll probably bring almost all the potted ones inside when I start seeing Monarchs because I already have plenty planted outside in the garden for the females to lay eggs on. By regular milkweed, do you mean the Common Milkweed? I think that grows about everywhere. It's not my preference, though because of the big tough leaves and the milky sticky sap that comes out of the plant when any leaves are removed. I grow Butterfly Weed, Swamp Milkweed, and Tropical Milkweed and they don't do that. I know that people here have mentioned on various occasions that the Tropical Milkweed is the one that the Monarchs prefer. Of course, if you want to have it every year, you would have to save seeds off of the plants since it's only an annual in Michigan. Butterfly Weed and Swamp Milkweed are perennnials. I like all three for their colors and for their butterfly attracting abilities. Cathy

I am a gardener, and I have always had organic gardens. I am a green person. However, both my husband and I think that bugs come because the organic matters I have used. We found roaches come from the cotton seed meal bags, and so forth in the garage. We love our yards, with ranges of different lives, a lot of birds, bees, butterflies, dragon flies, lizards, ladybugs, frogs, and all the bad ones too..... We live in a suburban, but my mom describe it as country. She has been a city person, so she sees it as country surrounded by even little woods. Maybe that's why my home is different than yours with organic approach???

Thanks all for responding. I guess I didn't really make myself clear. What you are calling '6 attributes' are not attributes in my eyes at all- I was only pointing out that the agent didn't say ANYTHING! No comments AT ALL when showing the house- don't any of you that are agents say- "oh- they have a whole-house filtration system", just to let someone know that it is even there? Or- 'oh- this sink is a custom made sink by Tom Schultz'- just nice comments... I imagine, in my mind, what I would be doing as an agent- not talking so much as to irritate a buyer, but pointing out things that are not easily seen. I also forgot to mention that there are no jobs in this town- either you work on the oil rigs or you are retired. As far as the decorating, I am well versed, and probably have a nicer looking interior that most- as has been commented many times, by realtors and lookers. My home is high quality furniture that is new, there is no junk, blah, blah, blah. I don't have a camera to use easily (for me), I have a digital that is a bit too complex for me- it is hit and miss and a lot of frustration to try to get them online. I am computer challenged. I do know that jobs here is a problem As far as the realtor- after a showing, don't any of you who are agents report back to the seller after a showing? Mine has not reported back to me in 6 months!! That is a big problem to me. The realtor that sold my other home reprted back to me every week- told me what he was doing to advertise, reported back how a person who looked at the house felt. So much more than this bimbo. My house isn't even on Zillow- I pulled up houses for sale in my area, and there were several by realtors here. Sweet tea- I had not heard of a 'discount broker' before- It seems that that may be what she is, without saying so. With 7% commission, I would think she would actually WORK! Obviously not!! I found out that there aren't many houses selling here at all- with this being more a retirement area that is higher in price to live- food, utilities, car license plates- multiple taxes, ie Irrigation taxes, license plate taxes being about $600-$1,000 for a new vehicle is a deterrent. My truck is 11 years old, and I just got my tag application ysterday- it is $153.00. My VW Bug is $613.00 THAT type of thing doesn't help! I believe I will look at a different agent, and have a REAL talk about my expectations- if that person can't meet them...see ya! Thank for your advice, all. I just expect someone to do their best- and that does include advertising wherever possible!

AnnieDeighnaugh your right, picking a color online is hard, but serendipity looks beautiful, as do the others. Next I'll buy some boards and start painting them, trying to figure it out. If I do it myself I may try using a stencil, with colors that are very close, or may look into someone doing a foe paint. I'm looking forward to getting the green off the walls.