What a wonderful post to read, Sandy!
You've really got something to look forward to and your work cut out for you! But when you enjoy it, it's not work!
Sherry

Sounds won-der-FUL!
Here the egg-laying is from mostly the GFs, monarchs, and orange barred sulphurs.
Also we brought in our first cassius blue eggs/cats last week. Had often watched them around the plumbago, but could never SEE anything. Anyway watched one lay an egg and brought it in on a cutting, and a couple of days later, there's a little green cat! Which I think as already on it when we brought it in 'cause he was too big to have just hatched. So now that I know what they look like, I go back out there and start finding them left and right.
Then we brought in our first dainty sulphur egg, one happened to lay an egg on some bidens while we watched, so we brougt in the leaves. The cat hatched a couple of days ago and he sure is dainty!!
Anyway, lots of fun!
Waiting for several zebra longwings to eclose in the next couple of days too-love those guys!
Happy butterflying all!
kelly

That is so cool. I'm in New England and the milkweed is just now coming up...soon Monarch season will be well underway. Can't wait.

Sounds like you're in business, Kelly! Congrats on those cassius blues - they're so pretty!
I saw a spicebush swallowtail laying eggs on a sassafras tree across from my garden, real high up, which is real exciting, because this is the first egg-laying I've seen this year from a SBST. I checked on a little, healthy-looking sassafras like they like, near the house and found an egg - YAY! My little Cannon has gone kaput, so I'm charging batteries to use my old Kodak - if the Kodak quits, I'll be in the market for a new camera. If I had an operating camera, you know I'd have posted a picture of the egg on the little sassafras!
A giant swallowtail flew through my garden again today, but no eggs.
Sherry

I saw a black form Tiger Swallowtail in the yard again today. I moved my potted Wild Cherry to the porch for more protection, but I need to check the Tulip tree. Doubt there are any there, but still..... I am down to 2 cats now. I checked the shrub several times, but cannot find there are any on it other than these two. They are definitely growing, but for the life of me, I can't see any evidence, frass or munched leaves, indicating they have been eating at all. Geez.

Had a little Wild Indigo Duskywing visiting today, so will check the Baptisia tomorrow.

More eggs on the Senna now as well.

Today saw a couple of medium size sulphur butterflies doing quick fly-bys, HE, Pearl Crescent, black Tiger, WI Duskywing, CWs, and Cloudless Sulphur.

They are definitely here!

Susan

Sounds like things are picking up everywhere. Seeing lots of different species here, except monarch.

I've seen maybe 6 monarchs this spring. Still no eggs or cats.

randy

Love hearing about all of the activity!

Randy,

That's 6 more Monarchs than I've seen this year! I'm seeing quite a few Eastern Tiger Swallowtails around. This seems to be a good year for them. I remember two years ago I didn't see any of them for a whole season. Hope Monarchs make a return. This is depressing!

Bill Oehlke was kind enough to cancel my Luna order until later. I'm finding more and more eggs everyday and didn't think I could add having to feed a bunch of lunas--that sounds kind of looney!

Sandy

It's been a bit depressing here since yesterday. I tell myself not to get attached to the stray cats that are around the neighborhood, but to no avail. Thru a collaborative effort between neighbors here, we feed and nurture them as best we can.

About 2 months ago, a brown and black tabby began showing up. A little shy at first, she soon warmed up to a gentle stroke with the hand and some food and water. She became a regular visitor, very sweet-natured, loved to be petted, with a ravenous appetite. I finally realized she was pregnant. She had her babies about a month ago, but we didn't have a clue where they were. Mother cats are very secretive about the location of their babies.

Sunday, Kenna was here and decided she was going to make a little "home" for Lady George (so-called because she so closely resemble my George, an indoor-only cat. In fact, when we first saw her, I thought Kenna had accidentally let George out of the house, for which I had to quickly apologize when I realized it was a different cat entirely! Kenna's little home consisted of a simple cardboard box with low sides, a clean sheet folded up to fit, a very small teddy bear, and a couple of "Cat Fancy" magazines.

Kenna followed her when she finished eating her food and found the kittens in the basement next door (door always left open). Armed with a flashlight, she discovered they were behind a couple of cememt blocks on a high shelf. I could only see 3, but she saw 4. She was so excited, even though I tried to lighten the enthusiasm by reminding her we would have to adopt them out; that Nannie could not have any more cats.

She didn't show up on Monday for her regular feedings, so I wondered if she was okay. Trekking down the basement steps as an old woman with bad knees struggles with steps, I found her lying dead at the bottom of the shelves where her kittens were. Such a shock to me, I was more concerned about how I was going to handle this with Kenna.

A friend and I went back over and we retrieved the kittens - there were 4 as Kenna said, two little black & brown tabbies like mom; 1 black and white tabby, with white boots, chest, and tummy, and 1 black with tiny hints of white. Cutest things you ever saw. They were hungry and a bit dehydrated, and about 4 weeks old. They didn't seem to be too frightened of us, but they must have been terrified. We checked them over and found they were all boys. Another neighbor friend is going to take them to her mother who lives on a farm, and take care of them until they are old enough to be allowed outside.

Still......I miss my sweet little gardening companion lying close to me in the soft grass, sunning herself while I worked.

I have got to stop caring about these strays because I get too attached to them, and their outlook for the future is mostly grim. We had planned to take her to a no-kill animal shelter as soon as the kittens were weaned so we had good intentions for her future.

So, we'll raise some Sleepy Oranges in her honor. Sorry for hijacking the thread.

Susan