This week I traveled from Upstate New York to Temascaltepec in the State of Mexico, where I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime to see every super monarch in North America.
Thanks pretty awesome. I’m looking to plant six-ten more milkweed plants here in Manhattan KS. Already have a couple. Just a regular backyard. However we have seen a couple dozen monarchs here.
beautiful story, i felt i was there a little... i didn't know the top is like a temple! no one talks about how hard it is to grow flowering milkweed... i think that's part of the problem, it takes years to establish and bloom- a real perennial. i've been trying to grow it in my yard for years and i think i have a few plants but they haven't bloomed. i've also tried growing two native species and they won't take, maybe they need really good soil (our lawn was kinda scraped into a hill). could you maybe make a post about how to grow milkweed from nothing in a yard? interview someone who has done it?
Milkweed doesn't have to bloom to help the monarchs. The butterflies lay their eggs on the milkweed and the caterpillars eat the milkweed leaves. They can eat the flowers, but the leaves is what the caterpillars need . Check with monarch.com and find out what milkweed varieties grow well in you area. You may even get free seeds. There are over 100 varieties of milkweed. Surely there is one that will grow in your area. We use giant milkweed in Florida, even though it is not native. It is not invasive and feeds hundreds of caterpillars.
oh lovely, i’ll focus more on the whole plant and check out that site. fortunately we had a volunteer milkweed grow on the lush patch of our yard so i’m hell bent on no one mowing it. i think the local growers don’t feel comfortable just growing common milkweed like they think no one will buy it… not true!
Wonderful!! This is how we build the new world trying to be born: collaboration and dialogue with Nature — and that does not mean humans should be excluded, as your beautiful story and profound experiences highlights. We must more consciously step in as nature's stewards, partners, and collaborators now as our collective interference and chaos makes it harder and harder for nature to do her all-important work.
Amazing Alexandra! So incredible. I'm so glad you were able to get to this breathtaking heaven on earth. So many friends of mine have milkweed in their gardens. I'll aim to plant one in a pot outside my apartment this spring.
Thank you so much for sharing your eye opening journey with us. I remember as a kid the the field behind my house in western NY being filled with milkweed plants. Now I can't remember the last time I saw one.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful experience Alexandra. It actually brought tears to my eyes. Where is a good resource for buying milkweed, seeds or plants? Does planting in pots help?
Altitude sickness is a bummer! Since I had a spell of it years ago, I try to spend a day or two at 5000-6000 feet to acclimate before going higher.
Thank you for sharing that butterfly trip with us. It's a powerful image to hold in mind when wondering if our own little patches of flowers make any difference.
Thanks pretty awesome. I’m looking to plant six-ten more milkweed plants here in Manhattan KS. Already have a couple. Just a regular backyard. However we have seen a couple dozen monarchs here.
6-10 more milkweed plants can mean all the difference!! It matters!!
Yes it does. Thanks for your diligence.
That must have been a nice trip seeing all those monarchs.
beautiful story, i felt i was there a little... i didn't know the top is like a temple! no one talks about how hard it is to grow flowering milkweed... i think that's part of the problem, it takes years to establish and bloom- a real perennial. i've been trying to grow it in my yard for years and i think i have a few plants but they haven't bloomed. i've also tried growing two native species and they won't take, maybe they need really good soil (our lawn was kinda scraped into a hill). could you maybe make a post about how to grow milkweed from nothing in a yard? interview someone who has done it?
Sure!
Milkweed doesn't have to bloom to help the monarchs. The butterflies lay their eggs on the milkweed and the caterpillars eat the milkweed leaves. They can eat the flowers, but the leaves is what the caterpillars need . Check with monarch.com and find out what milkweed varieties grow well in you area. You may even get free seeds. There are over 100 varieties of milkweed. Surely there is one that will grow in your area. We use giant milkweed in Florida, even though it is not native. It is not invasive and feeds hundreds of caterpillars.
oh lovely, i’ll focus more on the whole plant and check out that site. fortunately we had a volunteer milkweed grow on the lush patch of our yard so i’m hell bent on no one mowing it. i think the local growers don’t feel comfortable just growing common milkweed like they think no one will buy it… not true!
Divine. That’s all I have to say. Wow wow wow
Wonderful!! This is how we build the new world trying to be born: collaboration and dialogue with Nature — and that does not mean humans should be excluded, as your beautiful story and profound experiences highlights. We must more consciously step in as nature's stewards, partners, and collaborators now as our collective interference and chaos makes it harder and harder for nature to do her all-important work.
Beautifully said.
I love this so much! I love the monarchs and we have a bunch of milkweed. The aphids also love it.
Amazing!
How beautiful
Amazing Alexandra! So incredible. I'm so glad you were able to get to this breathtaking heaven on earth. So many friends of mine have milkweed in their gardens. I'll aim to plant one in a pot outside my apartment this spring.
God bless!
Thank you so much, Alexandra.
It is my pleasure!
Thanks for the tour and the content
Great content Alexandra. Thanks again!
Just incase you may be interested in this guy's fruit trees that are available.
This Tree Produces 40 Different Fruits on One Trunk — Why Did the USDA Try to Destroy Every Specimen...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSJJUEyInKQ
Thank you so much for sharing your eye opening journey with us. I remember as a kid the the field behind my house in western NY being filled with milkweed plants. Now I can't remember the last time I saw one.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful experience Alexandra. It actually brought tears to my eyes. Where is a good resource for buying milkweed, seeds or plants? Does planting in pots help?
It’s best sown directly outdoors! Needs cold stratification. You can plant it in March even!
Altitude sickness is a bummer! Since I had a spell of it years ago, I try to spend a day or two at 5000-6000 feet to acclimate before going higher.
Thank you for sharing that butterfly trip with us. It's a powerful image to hold in mind when wondering if our own little patches of flowers make any difference.
11500!!! it's amazing how much there is going up! Most just aren't in shape enough to see it.
Awesome read, what an amazing experience that must’ve been. I am currently looking up milkweed for my area in MA