Desertdenial, I feel like I'm hijacking this thread but at least I responded to the original line of query. Sorry. The Royals are deep green with a couple of fronds 'drying out' as nutrients are spent (older ones, which is normal for palms). They are a little older now and have started to grow trunks. You just have to get them throught the first two years with cold protection. On the other hand, if you really are in 8b, you will have some trouble with them. They say 28 degrees is their limit but that depends on duration, etc. In the winter, I string Christmas lights on them as a precaution (I'm not in the warmest area, but not the coldest either) and I treated them with Anti-transpirant (Anti-stress) this season which seems to work really well for palms but not for much else (1st season I have used it) as I have discovered. Foxtails are doing well. I have them on a north wall with eastern exposure along with the rest of my palms. It is the 'coldest' part of my yard though. They are more sensitive than the Royals when young despite what you might have read but 'toughen up' as they get older (like everything else, really). I would agree that they need AM and early PM sun and shade from late afternoon sun. Foxtails are doing well and grow under the filtered canopy of the Royals. I saw one in full blasting sun at Paddock on Thomas Road in Phoenix a while back, but it isn't the best looking one. Some mulch would probably help (hint, hint, Paddock!). For the record, I don't expect my Traveler's tree to look like that beauty in Tahiti (if it lives). Wow! Good luck with the Royals. You first frond may come out yellowish from cold damage but then the ones after will be OK if they come back. Remember lots of water and small doses of monthly fertizer in the warm months. A few good doses of superthrive might help too. I hope they recover for you and wish you best success!

As Edna says, chances are this was a diseased butterfly and it was beyond your help. Many times, those that are unable to 'inflate' their wings often have something wrong to begin with, as Larry (ladobe) says. There isn't much you can do. I can understand, as well, how sad you must've felt. In fact, I am certain that ALL of us on this forum have been in the same position as you at some point in time. But, with experience, we have learned that nature dictates what will happen and we cannot change these things on our own. We do what we can to help but some things just can't be helped. I've learned, over the years, to be somewhat 'hardened' about euthanizing Monarchs. In fact, I've taught my Kindergartners the same thing: that when Monarchs are unhealthy (stricken with OE, for example) that the most humane thing to do is to euthanize them. It is also the best thing to do for the rest of the population because the 'illness' can spread and infect the others, making for an epidemic of sorts. These little non-English speaking kids comprehend this, not from the "we've gotta kill our friends who are coughing" scenario but from the broader view of the insect world and what can happen, based on the sheer number of eggs a single butterfly lays. It is a difficult thing to do, to euthanize a butterfly. I always freeze them. I even do this in my classroom. Children will come up to me with butterflies they find outside that are 'hurt' and ask if they can put it in a baggy in the freezer so it won't hurt anymore. Death is a part of the life-cycle, too. It isn't the 'fun' part of raising butterflies but is something we do have to work with. I have my butterfly specimens that I've kept for people to see and the children are the first to ask, "How did it die?" Almost all of my specimens were ones I found on the ground, having died naturally. It's okay to be emotional. The holiday season probably makes it even more so. Hang in there. If you haven't looked through my Monarch site, check it out. I am going to be updating it but there's info on just what you went through. In fact, I just took a picture of a butterfly that eclosed, with OE, and was unable to unfurl its wings. I will be posting that picture in the next few days. tdogmom aka CalSherry tdogmom's Monarch Guide

Thanks for thinking about me, Mona. I hesitated to post here because of the word, "successful" in the subject line. :-) Newdawn, I would suggest you get the latest copy of "Writer's Market", usually found in the reference section of your bookstore. It contains a wealth of information on how to submit manuscripts to publishers, as well as a listing of publishers and what they do and do not accept. It also contains contact information for agents. I was lucky to have three murder mysteries published without an agent, but my publisher caters to a specific market--libraries that buy book packages on a quarterly basis (two mysteries, two romances, two westerns, etc.). The books are offered to the public online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. So, while it's fun to have them published, there's not a lot of money in it. To make it big, you really need an agent, and they're almost as difficult to get as having your book published. Getting an agent is my next goal, as soon as I have the time and motivation to start another book! Most large publishers will not accept unsolicited manuscripts and only work with agented material. Those publishers that do accept unsolicited manuscripts generally want a synopsis of your book and the first three chapters at first, then they'll let you know if they want to see the rest. Beware of publishers who want money from you to read your stuff, and I'd also advise against self-publishing offers. Also, before you submit your work, make sure it's proofread well and the copy is clean (that is, no spelling or horrendous grammar mistakes). If it's difficult to get past mistakes, the editor won't read much more than a few paragraphs. Good luck!

Good job! I agree, well matched! I try hard to match mine up well but sometimes you get a gap as they fuse and I suppose when that happens I can hope it'll fill in, in time. Yours look good. Keep up the good work! I threw out several of my grafts because they were of my virused varieties and I saw no point in keeping them so, alas, tossed them out a while back. I may try a few more before my summer is out, with varieties I know are good.