Monarch Butterflies on Butterfly Weed
This year we finally got around to planting some butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa.) We had bought some in the past from a local garden center, but it turned out to be goldenrod. Which is not butterfly weed! The goldenrod spread like crazy and I am still pulling up clumps of it.
The butterfly weed is doing it's job and has become a favorite of the monarchs! The only problem that I can see is that the leaves of the butterfly weed are similar to goldenrod leaves. Perhaps that is why the garden center made a mistake, though you would think if anyone could tell the difference it would be a garden center. They have since gone out of business, maybe they sold other mislabeled plants.
When I see the leaves side by side, I can tell a difference. One has more veining and one has slight notches in the leaves. This will not help me in the spring though when everything starts coming back up. I need to take a photo of both leaves side by side, with arrows pointing to the differences, otherwise, I'll be lost in the spring.
Do you grow butterfly weed in your garden?
dawn says
I have other types of milkweed in my yard and just love watching the Monarch life cycle take place.Plus it's great knowing my garden is helping the population.
Pam Greer says
We'd like to try some other types too.
Ellen Pilch says
Beautiful photos. We were lucky to have a chrysallis on our siding and we got to see the monarch emerge.
Marjie says
Our hummingbirds are gone, too. I did see a huge black and bright yellow butterfly the other day as I was getting my newspapers. Seems late in the year, but it made me smile!
Louise says
What a GREAT idea Pam. I can't tell you how many "weeds" my hubby has happily pulled out only to find out later that they were NOT weeds at all. Side by side pictures may just work!!!
I do have Butterfly Weed growing in the garden. I'm going to once again try to scatter seeds and see if more will "rise" next year. I've been literally throwing hummingbird flower seeds all over the garden too. They grew like crazy this year. Thank goodness Mike left them alone. (I guess I shouldn't complain about his weeding, I just couldn't get to it this year, lol:)
Your Butterfly Weed and Monarchs are simply lovely. I have a feeling the Monarchs have left my garden this season. I think the hummingbirds are gone too...
Thank you so much for sharing, Pam...
Pam Greer says
I think we are getting the last stragglers of the hummingbirds coming through. I usually leave my feeder up until almost November, just for those last few.