North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Bill Russell" <shaman@pennswoods.net>]

Jim,

While we have a good variety of butterflies here, spicebush swallowtails
have been declining in this area since I began watching them as a little
boy. It's a rare treat to see one now. There is also a large beautiful moth
(I forgot the name), whose larva uses spicebush, that has likewise virtually
disappeared here. I hope that whatever is decimating the spicebush plants
here does not reach your area. The related sasafrass trees do not seem to be
affected.

When I see wild plants and butterflies declining, I feel as if I am seeing
some symbols of the joy and uplifting beauty of life diminished. I wonder if
I should think of these changes as part of the normal flow of the natural
world and go with the flow. Or should I think of these as the result of some
unhealthy aspect of our life style?  "Ask not for whom the bell tolls..."

And yet, it's hard to think of summer things while we are enjoying playing
in the deep snow that has blanketed the whole northeast. I know that the
tiny grape vines that I planted late last spring are benefiting from the
protective snow mulch. And the summer draught that left the reservoirs
uncomfortably low will be filled again in the spring thaw.

Bill


Bill



----- Original Message -----
From: "nottke" <nottke1@earthlink.net>
To: <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 6:35 AM
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Amelanchier


> Bill,
> Sorry to hear about the death of your spicebushes.  Have you noticed any
> change in the population density of Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies?
> Here in North Carolina, about 15 miles west of Winston-Salem, the
> spicebushes are very healthy.  Wild plants grow along all the shady stream
> banks, with an open, leggy habit - up to 12 ft tall and 20 ft wide.  The
> ones that I have grown from wild seed and planted in my yard, which is
atop
> a broad ridge, do well as long as I keep them well-mulched.  In the drier
> semi-sun of the yard they grow with a compact, dense habit.  They are
often
> defoliated by caterpillars in late Aug or Sept, but the ones that are more
> frequently defoliated grow better than the ones that are not defoliated.
> Or is that the healthier bushes attract more caterpillars?
> Anyway, I grow them mostly to attract butterflies.  But now I will make
> some flavored vinegar as well.
>
> Jim Nottke
> Pfafftown, NC
> Hardiness Zone 7A
>
>
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