Emerging Milkweed: This potted milkweed is on its third or forth batch of seed pods, more of them each time. #1 Pod has split but seeds are still packed tightly. #2 Pod peeling back...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

This potted milkweed is on its third or forth batch of seed pods, more of them each time.

#1 Pod has split but seeds are still packed tightly.

#2 Pod peeling back and seeds still braided together but starting to come loose.

6D, Tamron 180 macro + Kenko Pro 300 1.4X for 252 mm, 1/1000 @ f/16, ISO 3200 hand held, SS was because of wind

A Pod that is almost split all the way

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Open all the way, seeds starting to unbraid

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schiller Loc: Montreal, Canada

very nice

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

robertjerl wrote:

This potted milkweed is on its third or forth batch of seed pods, more of them each time.

#1 Pod has split but seeds are still packed tightly.

#2 Pod peeling back and seeds still braided together but starting to come loose.

6D, Tamron 180 macro + Kenko Pro 300 1.4X for 252 mm, 1/1000 @ f/16, ISO 3200 hand held, SS was because of wind

Never saw milkweed before, wish I could get milkweed to plant, Monarch Butterflies love this plant, thanks for posting.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

A. J. wrote:

Never saw milkweed before, wish I could get milkweed to plant, Monarch Butterflies love this plant, thanks for posting.

They grow wild in most parts of Indiana, as they do in other areas of the country. Farmers don't like them because their sticky insides (hence the name milkweed) tend to gum up harvesting machinery. They are a mess to clean out.

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

Excellent shots. Do the plants attract many monarch butterflies?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

schiller wrote:

very nice

thanks

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

jaymatt wrote:

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

A. J. wrote:

Never saw milkweed before, wish I could get milkweed to plant, Monarch Butterflies love this plant, thanks for posting.

Here in So Cal the Home Depot and Lowe's chains sell potted milkweed. Other places also and most nurseries. There are lots of online sites that ship plants and seeds. Some sites have the resources to help you pick the species that are native to your area.
Just google "milkweed seeds" or Milkweed in Pennsylvania, a lot of other sites will come up.

Here is one of the national Monarch groups and they provide seed and info on which ones for your area:
http://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds.htm
and another good one, the National Wildlife Federation:
http://blog.nwf.org/2015/02/twelve-native-milkweeds-for-monarchs/

Here are a couple that are specific to PA:
http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/pa/newsletter-stories/help_to_bring_back_the_milkweed/
http://www.growmilkweedplants.com/pennsylvania-native-milkweed.html

They grow well in pots etc. One clue from landscapers is if you don't like the rather spindly look a lot of them have you put them in the back and plant flowers or other things as tall or taller in front of them.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

jaymatt wrote:

They grow wild in most parts of Indiana, as they do in other areas of the country. Farmers don't like them because their sticky insides (hence the name milkweed) tend to gum up harvesting machinery. They are a mess to clean out.

That is one of the main reasons Monarchs are down 90%. They only lay eggs on and their caterpillars only eat milkweed leaves.

More insecticide spraying and new crop varieties that are bred to be herbicide resistant so they can spray instead of cultivate the weeds out and that kills everything around the margins and fence lines also and that was where most of the milkweed was growing.

Here in So Cal they are pushing the use of milkweed in landscaping. For those who don't like the spindly look of many milkweed plants they say just plant them in back with tall flowers etc. in front of them. I bought two types as potted plants and 4 other types as seeds to go in flower beds and alone my fences when the new drip irrigation lines are buried to replace the old, leaking PVC lines to the sprinklers. I am starting them in those little molded peat pots that will just get buried when putting the plants in the yard.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Sirius_one wrote:

Excellent shots. Do the plants attract many monarch butterflies?

Considering that I only saw one or two a year the last several years and I am seeing at least one or two a day with only 4 potted milkweeds so far I would have to say yes. Remember, milkweed is a main food of the butterflies and the only plant that Monarchs lay eggs on. Their caterpillars eat nothing but milkweed.
There are a fairly large number of species of milkweed with several native to just about every region. Some look like flower garden plants and others tend to be rather spindly but the landscapers say to just plant those in the back with flowers etc that are tall enough to hide them in front.
Many people grow the caterpillars indoors in terrariums or green houses and turn the butterflies loose in their gardens. Around here many college's Agriculture and Horticulture departments maintain butterfly gardens. The city and county governments now encourage milkweed and other butterfly friendly plants for landscaping, esp in new housing or office projects being built.

A. J. Loc: PA. USA

robertjerl wrote:

Here in So Cal the Home Depot and Lowe's chains se... (show quote)

Thank you for all the information and links, I certainly appreciate it.

Thanks again,
A.J.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

A. J. wrote:

Thank you for all the information and links, I certainly appreciate it.

Thanks again,
A.J.

You are welcome.
If you have a college or university nearby with an Agriculture or better yet a Horticulture Dept you could try contacting them. They often have an outreach program and many of the professors love the attention/recognition and the chance to spread the word. There might even be a club in your area, several of the butterfly groups have local clubs.

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

robertjerl wrote:

Considering that I only saw one or two a year the ... (show quote)

Thank you so much for your reply, and I'm happy that you now see more monarchs.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

My pods are still green.