Seed catalogs come out around December/January, so that's the time to order seeds. You can make a wish list before then and also write down what you already have. For me, I like to shop in the stores, too, so I buy some off the rack in late winter. Ah, springtime...

Harvestman - thx for reply. 2011 was the 1st year I did any actual spraying. Dormant oil pre bud, then immunox pre-bloom, the 2X trazicide after bloom. this was very effective on all pests except the tent caterpillar. previous years when I spotted a nest early in the year I have waited until dusk and then treated the nest with Sevin or some similar insecticide. That has been effective killing the nests but it seems I miss a couple of nests every year and don't find them until the damage to the tree is apparent. I did discover one source on a trash tree adjacent to the apples this past year and that tree will be gone come spring. I was hoping there was something I could spray that would prevent them from ever getting a start. as always thx in advance for advice and help. Mark in MN

Seems like the Monarchs are returning. I have about 20 cats and released 7 beautiful Monarch's Sunday. However I haven't found any more eggs yet. I think the cold, wind and rain the last few days have kept them away. Hopefully that is over now and we can see them on the increase. I'm ready. Hope

I've released 14 red admirals so far, with more chrysalides to go, plus a good many American ladies, I haven't counted them - there are still 4 more AL chrsyalides. I've also released ?9 or 10 sleepy oranges. Here's a picture of an American lady I released a little while ago after she (I always want to call American ladies she!) rested on the wild black cherry tree by the porch. My camera has trouble handling all this noon day sun - I've got two red-spotted purples that have suddenly gone from being ridiculously tiny to looking like real caterpillars, though small. It's been my experience that their size increases very quickly now. Maybe I can get a picture of them later on. I still haven't gotten any pipevine swallowtail eggs, and I haven't seen a spicebush swallowtail in months - no cats or eggs either. Same with palamedes swallowtails, although I saw a female laying an egg in the red bay in my front yard high up, so if I got on a very tall ladder, I might find a caterpillar. Here's hoping the butterfly season improves - so far, it's not been a very good one. Sherry