Milkweed

 The Milkweed  ( Asclepias syriaca ) in one of our wild gardens really took off this year. 

It is setting seed pods now. 

AND still feeding Monarch Caterpillars!  Hope this one makes into a chrysalis.  Milkweed is the only host plant for Monarchs. 

Far Side

Monarch Caterpillar

I had a really fun time photographing a Monarch Caterpillar…I am easy to entertain!

We have some Common Milkweed along the back driveway.  

They eat Milkweed and they poop until they grow large enough to go through the pupa/chrysalis stage. This one might be a really lucky one that will migrate and live someplace warm for the winter!

I was happy to see one Caterpillar…this is the first one I have seen this year. Years ago we had many many Monarch Caterpillars.  We used to sell several varieties of Milkweed and would always ask with or without?   Some of the high heeled fancy matchy matchy ladies would say without what ? …CATARPILLARS of course…turns out they didn’t want any bugs on their Milkweed (never fear I thought to myself the “bugs” will find them! )…other ladies in gardening hats sporting sensible shoes and dirty fingernails would say “Yes could I have more than one?”  Milkweed is the only food source for the Monarch Caterpillar.

Meet The Milkweeds

I always look forward to the arrival of a few Monarch Butterflies, so they will lay some eggs on the Milkweed and we can have our own hatch back here in the woods. They were really slow to show up this year, I had about given up..but one did and she laid some eggs! Chance will show you!

I tried to get him to use his nose as a pointer..hey he isn't perfect but we are in the ballpark! This plant is located at the edge of my garage, it is a Swamp Milkweed or Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet'... Click on photo to enlarge.

The caterpillars are eating and growing.. I have really enjoyed watching them. The more Milkweed you have ..the more larvae you will be able to support. Yes, they eat the plants leaves..yes the plants don't look so great after awhile. We used to ask our customers..with or without? Some would look puzzled..then we would point out the Caterpillars.. most people wanted to take larvae home on their plant..others insisted on plants without "those creepy crawly bugs. " It was one way to separate the Conservationists from the non conservation minded people. Milkweed is the ONLY source of food for the larval stage of the Monarch butterfly..

This is Asclepias incarnata also but a pink variety. It might be 'Cinderella' or it may be just a seedling variation. Sorry it is still in the bud stage, I wanted it to bloom, but it is being a real slow poke.

Asclepias tuberosa or Butterfly Weed..I love the vibrant orange color. This plant never gets as many larvae on it. I am not sure why, it may have something to do with the levels of the toxins in their sappy milk. I read once where it varies from plant to plant, and the butterflies know where to lay their eggs for the best results for their offspring.

Common Milkweed or Asclepias syriaca, this is the one that you will see in Minnesota in the ditches..and in large wildflower plantings. It is a very heavy tropical looking plant.

I love the flowers..the unique structure of the hoods and horns ..or more commonly known as a crown..or a star shaped crown ..call it what you want it is a unique flower. On a unique plant, with one unique purpose..to be food for a colorful larvae that becomes a beautiful butterfly. There are thirteen different kinds of Milkweed in Minnesota, I have only shared four from my neck of the woods:)