Goodbye and good luck.

Every year I say it will be my last, but I continue. It is a lot of work. I just brought in a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar because I have watched the predators empty the leaves.

Wish I was closer to you. I am raising Luna moths.

Good luck with everything. Never say never. Hopefully you'll find a reason to check back in.

Martha

I have one more question. Can spicebush and butterfly bush live in my zone?

Yes. You will need to mulch your butterfly bush in the winter. You can protect them further by adding a large rock near the plant. This will absorb heat and create a microclimate. Other options are planting near your house or a wall.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fact sheet on Spicebush

I grow spicebush now and have had butterfly bush in a previous house. The spicebush does fine, but you have to be patient with the butterfly bush. Mine died back to the snow line most years, or even back to ground level if we had little snow, but it sprouted from the roots and reached 8' or so each year.

Here are my two spicebushes last fall while they were a mix of green and gold, one behind the pink hydrangea on the left side, and the other in the upper right corner. They are large shrubs, probably 8' tall and wide at 4 years old.
{{gwi:488173}}From 2013