thanks for the steven wright jayt–when i got the cable guy’s one-liners the other day, reminded me of him.

and ohbytheway phyllis mentioned goldie hawn–overboard……cute and funny. is on right now on cable. seen it a kazillion times. watching it again.

PS: I am so glad someone mentioned The Producers; I had a friend who loved, outrageously loved, that movie, Zero, etc. He would marvelously break out in the Springtime song. Just ridiculously fun!!!

Just got back here. And then company just arrived. Shoot!

Will try to revisit the subject as soon as I can get to it.

Basically, I looked up in various books and especially on the net to find out what kinds of plants attract butterflies (and birds too). We’ve been doing this sort of thing for years, trying to transform our 8 acres of field and woods into a wildlife-friendly place. First concentrated on migrating birds, and getting as many of the resident species as possible to nest here.

But butterflies are a new project for us, because I have always been mostly a veggie-oriented gardener. Learning to leave ALONE tomato hornworms and all the damage they do was an early dip into the pool. (Why? Well, because there’s a wasp species that attacks them and lays their eggs in the horn worm. If you develop a healthy population of those wasps, you don’t have more than the occasional one to contend with. Ain’t nature wunnerful?!)

I had read that all you need to do is plant flowers that butterflies like, and they’ll show up on their own. It’s true, by gum. There is NO need to raise them yourself. They are highly attracted to certain plants, and if they are in your yard, you’ll have the butterflies.

I would suggest googling “butterfly gardening” or some such thing. That should turn up LOTS of good sites with planting suggestions.

We just kept adding bushes and perennials and some annuals that we read were very attractive to wildlife, and found places to fit them in. I think I listed some of our favorites upthread, but there are lots more.

Over the years, we have begun mowing less and less of our “lawn”, keeping some very neatly mowed but increasing the portion of our property that provides the “edge” type of habitat that’ll bring lots of birds to nest and feed.

It’s important for lots of reasons, not just the butterflies, but organic gardening is best. If someone insists on spraying, using powerful weed-killers, etc., they can forget the butterfly gardening. Also, if you insist on having plants with absolutely perfect leaves, to the point that you feel the need to use pesticides on them, that won’t work either. Butterflies have a larval stage, of course, and those caterpillers chomp on things. duh *g*

Some of the relevant websites and field guides are excellent at listing information on what plants are natural hosts for each species. Larvae are often attracted to a whole different host than the adults. Some adults don’t even feed at all. Others (e.g., Tiger Swallowtail) will be fluttering through your property all summer ;->

I hope this helps a little. I must dash right now, but will try to get more specific some time.

Oh, and a huge bonus we found we gained from encouraging more “edge” areas (taller grass and shrubs, etc.): absolutely beautiful dragonflies and damselflies moved in to the area. They often are kinda territorial, fly specific routes back and forth, and pick certain favorite perches to sit on for long enough, that they’re as much fun as birds to see through your binocs. Most of them breed around water. But we don’t have a pond or any standing water. Apparently having a few neighbors who have ponds is good enough to attract them and they seem to do most of their feeding at our place.

Of modern films, again with my son, we watch Shawn of the Dead for a reliable series of laughs every time; or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

I know what you mean about girlfriends, Christy. I have really only one close woman friend, but I wouldn’t trade that friend for 100 others. She possesses an absolutely delicious laugh, and even if I’m in the next room and don’t know what she’s laughing about, if I hear her laugh, it cracks me up.

Some sources of Joy:

Midnight Run (could watch this over and over, DeNiro and Grodin, what a sensational odd couple)
AbFab (adopting the Rumanian baby episode especially)
Compromising Positions (old Susan Sarandon movie about murder of a LI dentist)
The Winslow Boy with Jeremy Nortrup
Midnight Lace with Doris Day
4 Weddings and a Funeral
most Hitchcock movies (especially Shadow of a Doubt and Rear Window)
Closer with Kyra Sedgewick
Columbo with Peter Falk
As Time Goes By with Judi Dench
Fawlty Towers with John Cleese
Randy Newman singing “I’m Different”
Bette Midler singing “You’ve Got To Have Friends”
Tracey Chapman singing “Fast Car”

:)

(Am old enough to have appreciated Tom Lehrer. What a brilliant wit. That song “Who’s Next” about the bomb… ended with Iran, wasn’t it? He saw that coming…didn’t he?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYffXv7jMYQ

for fans of a twisted sense of humor.