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Concerned about seeing fewer monarch butterflies in recent years, I wondered if there was a correlation with the fact that I’ve seen less milkweed lately. Since monarchs are dependent on milkweed, I was glad to see a bunch of them on my walk yesterday. They are fascinating to examine in their own right, with texture varying from rough and brittle to downy soft, and with shapes ranging from ramrod straight to gracefully arching. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I liked taking them.
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Do you grow milkweed in your yard? I added it and other host plants like fennel (swallowtail butterflies) and some natives and hybrids for pollinators to my gardens. If you don’t grow it you should. This helps in a small way with the loss of habitat due to development. It also drove me crazy in CT to see the state mowing the wild strips of “pasture” along the roads before the flowers were done blooming and therefore before the seeds were produced and able to spread. If only they would wait until late autumn to mow…
No we haven’t grown it, but it is a great idea.
Thanks for the pictures Polly. I have seen that in my yard but not recently. Will look for it and make sure I have some. I can probably get some from our large natural parkland nearby if I dont see it.
These striking photos evoke a bitter- sweet memory. As an eight-year-old, I joined forces with countless others to
gather milkweed pods. We helped create the fillers for life preservers worn by GIs who were preserving our lives
from Hitler.
Wow. Thanks for sharing that vignette!