Hi Mary and welcome back! Here's what I have listed as host plants for the Spicebush Swallowtail: spicebush (Lindera benzoin) sassafras (Sassafras albidum) redbay (Persea borbonia) tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) I hope that you get to raise some. I bought some spicebushes and this will be the fifth year I've had them and have yet to find any cats on them, although I usually have Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies flying around here most years. Cathy

Wonbyherwits - good point. Everyone, please read her post before posting anything here. Natalie, and that is why I prefer to link to my own personal blog for photos. I am also putting some photos on Pinterest, but the volume there is tremendous compared to here, so I'm not so concerned about Pinterest using my photos--they get lost in the crowd. Cameron

Raven -- Yes, it's the view from the lanai at our ccndo in South Kihei on Maui. We've owned it for 11 years and are there for a month or more in winter. It's a ground floor unit with parking just outside and all tile flooring. It's not fitted out to be totally handicapped accessible, and there are three shallow steps down from the parking level. From what you've written on the KT about your mobility issues, it could probably work for you. Message me for our VRBO ad number.

To woodchuck.mo: About Hydrangea color Unless a hydranagea is the standard white variety, its color depends on the PH of the soil (acidic to basic). The soil must be acidic to produce the blue color. If the soil is neutral (ph 7) to basic, the color will be pink. It works just like litmus papar in chem lab: litmus paper turns blue in acid and pink in basic solutions. It is tough in SE Wisconsin to get the blue color due to the high limestone content in our soils. Sulphur compounds are available at garden centers to acidify the soil around hydrangeas, but I have found that the recommended amount hardly affect our soils. There is too much limestone just beyond the plant's root circle. The blue to pink hydrangea is an inicator plant. It indicates the ph of your soil The beautiful blue color seen in garden centers are of plants grown in a pot where complete control of acidicy is possible. If you plant, I recommend the new variety called something like "ever summer" (not the exact name). It blooms on new wood in June whereas the standard plant blooms on 2nd year wood. Blooming on new wood was important to my hydrangea this year. The plant came out of dormancy too early this year due to our warm March. Buds swelled on the old wood and was about to break open when April freezes killed these buds. Later the stem died also, but the plant revived in May sending up new shoots from the root and these shoots have new blooms that will soon be open. Without the ability to bloom on new wood, I would not have any blossoms this year. As the blossom ages out, it turns green and finally browns in the fall. The bloom is long lasting, and new blossoms continue to appear as the older ones age out. The plant is susceptable to deer damage; the dear nip off new blossoms as they appear.