Category Archives: Milkweed

sung to the tune of “straighten up and fly right” There’s a butterfly on my milkweed There’s a butterfly on my milkweed There’s a butterfly on my milkweed Drink up baby and be on your way Took all summer and … Continue reading →

Maybe you recently received the same email I did about an “import-free” holiday season. Basically, the message was: Skip buying cheap decorations and gifts, and carefully select meaningful items that support the local economy. Less junk, less clutter, and better … Continue reading →

Last week, students at Thomas Arnold Elementary School and Salado Intermediate School were briefed on Monarch butterflies and their contribution to society. On Monday, Phase I of a beautification project will begin that includes putting in a Monarch way station … Continue reading →

One of the most spellbinding few hours I have ever spent was when I watched the emergence of several monarch butterflies from their chrysalises anchored to a bouquet of milkweed at one of our past Bugfest events. Somehow, I had … Continue reading →

Dwindling monarch butterfly populations have prompted some gardeners to pepper their landscapes with milkweeds, the various plants in the Asclepiadaceae family on which monarchs lay their eggs. Chubby, zebra-striped monarch caterpillars gorge themselves on the plants’ milky alkaloid sap, which … Continue reading →

In an effort to contribute to the recovery and resurgence of Monarch Butterfly populations, Prairie Moon Nursery will include a free packet of Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca seeds with every retail order in 2012. Monarchs appear to lay their eggs … Continue reading →

Canadian astronaut Robera Bondar has given a nice boost to a Sault Ste. Marie teen’s developing photography career. Jennifer Russell, 17, placed first in The Bondar Challenge’s senior division. The competition, organized by The Roberta Bondar Foundation, encourages students to … Continue reading →

Family: Asclepiadaceae (Milkweed) Scientific Name: Asclepias tuberosa Perennial herb found on roadways, abandoned farmlands, open woodlands, and prairies. Sandy, loamy, or rocky limestone soils. Watch for: Lance-shaped alternate leaves smooth above and velvet beneath. Flowers are a showy orange, with … Continue reading →

The winds of November and December take part in milkweed seed dispersal. Recently, the evening sun spotlighted some silky seeds that were preparing for a wind dispersal event. That picture looks a bit like a studio photo, but it’s a … Continue reading →

QUESTION: We are considering a monarch waystation for our local elementary and are concerned about milkweed toxicity. Would it be safe to plant it in reach of children? ANSWER: The Poisonous Plants of North Carolina database says that all parts … Continue reading →