Tom,

That's pretty cool that you had 3 spicebush at the same time. I love seeing the butterflies chase each other in circles in what I assume is a mating dance. Last week, I saw two monarchs flying while attached (more like the top one was flying and the lower one was enjoying the ride)...a first for me.

I can't definitely answer your question about male vs female size and color from personal experience. However, I seem to remember that the male's abdomen was smaller (as I have noticed in several different species) and the male had a more greenish tint on the hind wings where the females were brighter blue. I'm sure that Sherry will confirm the differences.

I second your comment on Florida's natural attraction for butterflies and hummers. And, I am finding that everything grows huge in SW Florida :) Tolerating 4-5 months of heat and humidity is a fair price to pay for year round gardening, butterflies, hummers and no snow.

Your gardens and their caretaker may be mature, but both are aging gracefully :)

Rhonda

The white cestrum is spectacular, Tom!

I've raised many spicebush swallowtails, and I can't see a difference in overall size in the sexes. Both sexes are bright and beautiful when they first emerge. Males are a sort of silvery blue that extends high into their hindwings, with silvery blue half-moon shaped spots/lunules on the edges of their wings, and the females are more of a royal blue limited to the lower part of their hindwings, with silvery lunules. As they age, the males become a sort of dingy, sage green, and the females become a badly faded shade of blue. Whenever I see butterflies swirling upward, it's usually the result of one butterfly chasing another one off, and they somehow wind up in a swirl - I haven't noticed that it's related to mating. When they're doing their mating dance, the male will usually hover over the female and follow her around.

We're entering into peak season here, too, Tom, and I'm seeing SO many butterflies now - many, many gulf frits, many pipevine swallowtails, many long-tailed skippers, plus other species popping in and out, including spicebush swallowtails.

It's interesting that you mention others moving to Florida. I'm actually open to that now. I had another devastating loss recently. My youngest daughter passed away at the tender age of 47 from a massive heart attack on July 11th, just 6 weeks after her father/my husband of 51 years, passed away on May 25th. My 90-year old mother and 60-year old brother live in Hattiesburg, but the family I had for so long with my husband and two daughters is now reduced to just me and Claire. Claire lives in new Tampa, so I've been considering moving to somewhere in the Tampa area, at least within easy driving distance of north Tampa, the area where she lives. I'm in no rush to make a decision now, I'm just beginning to come out from under the crush of the latest blow. At this point, I'm sort of shrugging my shoulders about everything - I don't have any control over anything, so what can I do? Just move on.

So, any way, Tom, if you see a small home for sale on about 1/2 - 2 acres for a reasonable price, let me know, I'd certainly be open to looking at it. I haven't been impressed with any homes I've seen for sale so far on line, anything reasonably priced looks like a little box with no character sitting on a small lot. I'll be visiting Claire in October, probably, but I could come earlier if I could find something that looks worth buying.

Sherry

MissSherry,

i am kind of speechless about what tough times you have been having. I am so sorry. I sincerely admire your strength and how gracefully you are handling it. That's probably not the right word, even after 20 years here I do miss the right ones. So consider yourself hugged.

Tom, your cestrum is just beautiful! I've never had a white one.

Sherry, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter and your husband. You are surely being tested. Please accept my deepest condolences.

If you do move to the Tampa area, I'd love to come visit you and bring some plants for your new garden. It's only about 1 1/2 hours north of me.

Rhonda

Gosh, so sorry to hear about your daughter, Sherry. Things have been terrible for you.

You are right. We can't control the past. We have to move on. We can't give up.

I live about an hour and a half from Tampa, so I really have little idea about what might be available in that area. You really need to come down and look around for yourself.

If you like, I'd be pleased to drive you around. Just let me know.

Tom

Thanks to you all, my Butterfly Forum friends.

Sherry

The white cestrum is now a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators. The flowers emit a powerful, sweet fragrance that seems to draw them.

This morning I saw two Tigers, two Giants, a Red Admiral, a Monarch, several frittilaries, a hummingbird moth and some bees and wasps on it.

All at the same time.

Woo hoo, Tom! There's nothing like peak butterfly season!

Sherry

Sherry, my heart goes out to you. You are wise to take time before making any big changes. You have already faced more change in a few months than any person could stand. Take care of yourself. Know that we are all thinking of you. You give so much to all of us.

Martha

Thank you, Martha.

Sherry

Sherry, I am quite sorry to hear about all your struggles. We are all here thinking of you.

Jacob

Me too, me too, Sherry.
Belatedly, because I came upon this thread in the course of
hunting for something unrelated.

Tom, two smaller chasing a larger :
- Were the smaller smaller than standard Spicebush?
- Was the larger larger than standard Spicebush?

I don't understand the question, four.

Were the smaller spicebushes smaller than the average spicebush, and was the larger spicebush, larger than the average spicebush swallowtail? If I understand what four was saying.

I guess the reference was to a post some time ago. Yes the smaller ones seemed to be a bit smaller than "normal" spicebush, but the larger one seemed to be the normal size. Still seeing many spicebush, tigers, giants, zebras, polydamas, sulfurs and frits.

Also saw four hummers chasing each other this morning. The most I've seen this year. I think all of them are juvies, but I didn't get a clear view. They don't come to the feeders at all.

More than a reference, they are your words written in presenting your
question that is the topic of this recently created thread.
I hoped to address the question.