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Monarchs dancing around my tropical milkweed Asclepias curassavica
Here's a monarch cat munching on the same plant.
Here is another one on my swampweed. Asclepias Incarnata
I also have many regular milkweed. Asclepias Tuberosa I am still on the hunt for Common milkweed plants. (very difficult to find) Seeds I can find anywhere, but I always like to start with at least one real plant.
After a few days of munching on the milkweeds. This is what they turn into.
Monarch Chrysalis:
Well---that's it. You have inspired me so much with your photos. I have not been doing as much as I should. I will definitely plant more to attract them. Thanks so much!
This will be my third year doing my part. A word of caution to all beginners! Please make sure any milkweeds you do plant are native to your area, as it can have a very bad effect on the overall health of the monarch.
Also anyone growing tropical milkweed in the southern states should cut the flower heads off your plants early to mid fall. it has been found that it disrupts the transients in their quest to finalize their migration. Let me see if I can find a pic of one actually laying an egg on my incarnata.
I thought I had pics of the tuberosa too, but cannot locate them right now.
Here is what the butterfly bed looked like in the spring of last year.
And again roughly six weeks later.
Don't forget nectar plants also. I read somewhere a monarch can smell the milkweed they need a good thirty miles away! Maybe it was more, can't remember.
What a beautiful cottage garden! I could look it up but do you know if deer eat these plants? Most of my backyard is fenced but not sure how much room I have. We'll have to see how harsh this winter is and what I lose if anything.
I do have a 150 sq ft patch in the side garden where I grow deer proof wildflower garden and I'm wondering if I can incorporate these plants in there?
What a beautiful cottage garden! I could look it up but do you know if deer eat these plants? Most of my backyard is fenced but not sure how much room I have. We'll have to see how harsh this winter is and what I lose if anything.
I do have a 150 sq ft patch in the side garden where I grow deer proof wildflower garden and I'm wondering if I can incorporate these plants in there?
The deer do not touch any milkweeds, as the milky sap can be poisonous to all but the monarch cats. Be prepared for aphids tho. They won't do any harm, but some will freak when first seeing them. I glove up and just squish-em.
The deer do not touch any milkweeds, as the milky sap can be poisonous to all but the monarch cats. Be prepared for aphids tho. They won't do any harm, but some will freak when first seeing them. I glove up and just squish-em.
I have to disagree about them not doing any harm. My milkweeds get infestations so heavy that the plant turns black and it dies. I wish I had some photos of the damage they do. I go out there with a hose and try to rinse them off.
Here are a couple of interesting posts about the milkweed aphids:
I have to disagree about them not doing any harm. My milkweeds get infestations so heavy that the plant turns black and it dies. I wish I had some photos of the damage they do. I go out there with a hose and try to rinse them off.
Here are a couple of interesting posts about the milkweed aphids:
You could very well be right, but I have not found that to be the case where I live, or for that matter everyone else I talk to here in lower NY.
From being on this planet for more than 60+ years, I do understand nothing is etched in stone, so point well taken, and do appreciate the info you posted.
i had a few milkweed plants this past summer and was overwhelmed by the number of monarch cats that I found. I had to move a few to an undiscovered milkweed but I'm not sure if they all made it.
It was a pleasant surprise to see a monarch flying around my garden. it must have just come out of it's chrysallis when I spotted it.
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