Hi nutmeg, see pics on link. Vitex/Chaste Tree was recently in bloom here and I snapped pics with my camera phone, sometimes a bit fuzzy, of vitex in bloom at different locations around town. It is used here in both residential and commercial landscaping, just as crêpe myrtle trees are used. In full bloom vitex is a favorite of mine to stop and admire. It's a tree here, but a bush for you it seems as your cold winter will make it die back - die back at the very least! Click "Next" to see all 5 pics GW thread on vitex with happy ending, came back this yr for poster in z5 Ohio

Larry, I very much appreciate your expert information about this butterfly, and I will be sure to tell my friend. She was excited to see it, and now I know that it will have even more meaning to her after she knows what you said here. It think it would be wonderful to be able to study all of the butterflies that you have over the years and to be able to share your experience with others. Sandy, Yes, I thought so too and so did my friend when she saw it. She was actually in Mexico to see the Monarchs before they started their journey northward. I hear now that they're getting to be on their way. Danny, I looked on the butterfliesandmoths.org website and saw that it was only reported in the southernmost county in Texas. I guess it was blown pretty far north of its regular stomping grounds then from the hurricane. You'll have to keep your eyes open and maybe you'll see one too someday. ;-) Cathy

Looks like an eastern tailed blue to me - beautiful pictures Richard! Blues are really hard to photograph, very elusive, alright! Sherry

"Small Cabbage White" may be over-doing it a bit for the common name on P. rapae. Neither Peterson East or West Guidebook mentions "small". Pyle, who is quite thorough, includes "small white", as does the Audubon Guide. This forum seldom uses "small cabbage white", and it is outnumbered by "cabbage white" in a google search by 101,000 to 800. The use of "small" in Wikipedia will probably increase the 800 count in the future. Although calling it "Cabbage Butterfly" seems too obvious, it does help educate people away from the most common name for P. rapae, "Cabbage Moth", that is not included in butterfly guides! By any name, it is still just as white, and not to be confused with the "small-veined white".