quick update...as of sep 1st, they are still here in full force. They are still mating. The egg laying has dropped way down but I'm still finding them here and there. There are both females and males in the large group of 40+. A large group slumbers in the arbor vitae bushes and the rest take advantage of surrounding trees. today's high 95...tomorrows 76....they will be heading your way soon! Here's a pic of 16...can you find them all? Tony

Coolbutterfly, Your plant looks like a cross between White Profusion and Black Knight, both Buddleia davidiis. I say this because I've had some volunteers come up between my two plants. They are paler than the Black Knight, but definitely not white. This is because the flowers were open pollinated and two colors cross pollinated. The person you got the seeds from had other colors of butterfly bushes besides white. The only way you could guarantee white butterfly bushes from the seeds is to grow only white butterfly bushes. The best way to get a White Profusion is to find someone that has one and take a cutting. Butterfly bushes are easy to propagate from cuttings.

Hi Sandy, Thank you for your nice comment on the photo. I noticed the same native Liatris blooming along the freeway while on my way to London, AR. I'm going to let the seed heads on my plants dry and see if I can be successful with seed germination this winter. I've never had luck germinating seed of this plant. Yes, I believe MaryAnn did have several different Asters available. Don't they make nice color this time of year plus provide a much needed nectar source. I can't wait to see how this Peachies Pick does. It has some dried seed heads on it and I crumpled up one and sprinkled it in a mini greenhouse to see if anything germinates. Be happy to share some seed, if they're viable and come true from seed. My potted plant also has a fresh bloom, which I think is beautiful ... love to try new plants! http://www.perennialreference.com/perennials/stokesia.html Pine Ridge Gardens is having another open house in mid October. That might be an ideal time to consider driving over. The Open House dates are on MaryAnn's website. ~Mary Here is a link that might be useful: Pine Ridge Gardens

What wonderful photos! Thanks everyone for sharing. I, like many of you, plant my flowers for the pollinators and friends! I just have a camera phone right now, so I miss a lot of the neat discoveries in my garden. Was shocked to have a hummingbird twice in my garden this summer. Ordered a Major Wheeler Honeysuckle already for them this summer. Also missed taking photos of a toad who spent weeks in my garden... whenever I came prepared for him I couldn't find him. He used to hop out from behind plants and about stop my heart. One day he stopped making an appearance. A few beauties I did catch with my camera phone... asking my hubby for a digital camera for my birthday in January. Might make it easier to catch some of my visitors. :o) Michaela