What an absolute joy your articles are to me. I started a Milkweed plant I got from my garden center, and it grew into a study bush by the end of our short summer. (Central Alberta) it was always covered in so many interesting insects and my camera spent many busy hours saving photos for my winter
focus. I am for sure planting and watching more of this delightful plant !
I have a small patch of milkweed. I had no idea how complicated pollination is. My patch is too small to attract the monarchs but I hope it's helpful to some other creatures. Sandy
I planted a number of milkweed starts last year. I am hoping they will bloom this year and tickle some bee legs. There's a wild one that grows in the woods here and I have tried to plant its seeds elsewhere in the woods. And to get a start from a cutting, but no luck. I live up in Flagstaff, Arizona we have extreme snow and periods of drought before the summer monsoons. My hope is to support monarch butterflies, but I haven't seen any of those around in my years here. I loved your essay in the way that you center the motive of the flower in facilitating the accident of the bee, as well as the question of whether a hummingbird could help propagate. Wonderfully written, good information. Thank you!
What a wonderful description! And thank you for the microscopic image of the pollen on the bee’s foot!
“I marvel that milkweeds ever get pollinated at all.” That’s exactly what I was thinking - it seems impossible that we still somehow end up with all those plump seed pods filled with those gorgeous, silky seeds :)
I wonder how the interaction is with the butterfly when his legs slips down into the blossom? I've read about how they "taste" with their feet, that they have taste buds on their feet and antennae!
Bees see in ultraviolet light, and doodle bugs walk backwards! What wonderful worlds our gardens possess.
O Wow! Just Wow. Such richness of description (to say Nothing of the Amazing Photography), and Knowledge of the Microscopic Universe we could all spend our day(s) being Totally Amazed By... I must remember this when slogging through some mundane tasks that try to be "life," at times. But, hmmm...perhaps that bee or butterfly might think what they are doing is...mundane, or annoying...Hmmm...I shalt ponder these things. And, sigh, again, thank you, Diane, for bringing sweet light and joy to my morning! Oh, fyi, I visited our Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges State Park here in Santa Cruz the other day. Always a joy. The Museum person said that November is The Month when Monarchs begin flying away from the Eucalyptus trees, to journey...elsewhere! Z'all so utterly amazing and wonderful! WE must fit in here, somewhere...beyond... The Daily News, and such places. Perhaps AI knowz......
This bright orange is rare among native flowers of the upper midwest, so butterfly weed really stands out in a prairie. With enough sun they become almost shrub-like in their vigor. My plants have pods, I will keep a sharp eye out for seedlings this year.
Diane I so appreciate the work that goes into a post like this! Thank you for teaching us about milkweed and its unique needs. Certainly, never knew it was not self-propagating. Or, how difficult the task might be. Or even impossible for say ... a hummingbird.
We are getting a return of wintery nights for the next 2 weeks. I am thankful for this as it lets me start some of the seeds that need such cold weather. Please know this is being done with your help along the way! Again, I thank you!
Wow, I had no idea that the butterfly Milkweed pollination is such a tricky thing! Amazing.
I've had very little luck getting these to grow. I've tried them in different spots in the garden. I plan to buy some that are especially for clay soils and see how they do. Thanks again Diane, for an eye-opening and beautiful article, and yes, I found the caterpillar! You make everything so interesting!
How thrilling! I have just a tiny, tiny patch of sun. I'm encouraged to plant a few milkweed plants there this year.
Now I know why my Butterfly Milkweed plant from last Spring died - I had only one plant. This year I will try again, better informed!
My friend in New Brunswick planted a Milkweed and Did have a Monarch reach her location!
We were so amazed
when a caterpillar resulted from her short visit, and celebrated in many conversations together after that.
What an absolute joy your articles are to me. I started a Milkweed plant I got from my garden center, and it grew into a study bush by the end of our short summer. (Central Alberta) it was always covered in so many interesting insects and my camera spent many busy hours saving photos for my winter
focus. I am for sure planting and watching more of this delightful plant !
Thank you again.
I have a small patch of milkweed. I had no idea how complicated pollination is. My patch is too small to attract the monarchs but I hope it's helpful to some other creatures. Sandy
I planted a number of milkweed starts last year. I am hoping they will bloom this year and tickle some bee legs. There's a wild one that grows in the woods here and I have tried to plant its seeds elsewhere in the woods. And to get a start from a cutting, but no luck. I live up in Flagstaff, Arizona we have extreme snow and periods of drought before the summer monsoons. My hope is to support monarch butterflies, but I haven't seen any of those around in my years here. I loved your essay in the way that you center the motive of the flower in facilitating the accident of the bee, as well as the question of whether a hummingbird could help propagate. Wonderfully written, good information. Thank you!
What a wonderful description! And thank you for the microscopic image of the pollen on the bee’s foot!
“I marvel that milkweeds ever get pollinated at all.” That’s exactly what I was thinking - it seems impossible that we still somehow end up with all those plump seed pods filled with those gorgeous, silky seeds :)
I wonder how the interaction is with the butterfly when his legs slips down into the blossom? I've read about how they "taste" with their feet, that they have taste buds on their feet and antennae!
Bees see in ultraviolet light, and doodle bugs walk backwards! What wonderful worlds our gardens possess.
Wow! I have never seen that color milkweed in the western US - our native milkweeds mostly (all?) bloom pink. How lovely.
Wow. I had no idea. thanks.
They are beautiful. How much heat can they take? I only plant for zone 9 and 10 in my area, but we can get freezes too. I'm in central Texas.
O Wow! Just Wow. Such richness of description (to say Nothing of the Amazing Photography), and Knowledge of the Microscopic Universe we could all spend our day(s) being Totally Amazed By... I must remember this when slogging through some mundane tasks that try to be "life," at times. But, hmmm...perhaps that bee or butterfly might think what they are doing is...mundane, or annoying...Hmmm...I shalt ponder these things. And, sigh, again, thank you, Diane, for bringing sweet light and joy to my morning! Oh, fyi, I visited our Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges State Park here in Santa Cruz the other day. Always a joy. The Museum person said that November is The Month when Monarchs begin flying away from the Eucalyptus trees, to journey...elsewhere! Z'all so utterly amazing and wonderful! WE must fit in here, somewhere...beyond... The Daily News, and such places. Perhaps AI knowz......
This bright orange is rare among native flowers of the upper midwest, so butterfly weed really stands out in a prairie. With enough sun they become almost shrub-like in their vigor. My plants have pods, I will keep a sharp eye out for seedlings this year.
Wow! Who knew that milkweed pollination was such a complicated thing? Apparently, you did/ do! Brilliant, beautiful pictures, as always ❤️
Diane I so appreciate the work that goes into a post like this! Thank you for teaching us about milkweed and its unique needs. Certainly, never knew it was not self-propagating. Or, how difficult the task might be. Or even impossible for say ... a hummingbird.
We are getting a return of wintery nights for the next 2 weeks. I am thankful for this as it lets me start some of the seeds that need such cold weather. Please know this is being done with your help along the way! Again, I thank you!
Wow, I had no idea that the butterfly Milkweed pollination is such a tricky thing! Amazing.
I've had very little luck getting these to grow. I've tried them in different spots in the garden. I plan to buy some that are especially for clay soils and see how they do. Thanks again Diane, for an eye-opening and beautiful article, and yes, I found the caterpillar! You make everything so interesting!