Tropical Milkweed Comeback?

I wouldn't have believed it either, but it happened. A milkweed plant out back (south side) behind the kitchen actually came back from last year. I had to inspect the root to be sure, and sure enough it was attached to the old wood.

Because of the really cold and snowy season we had, it would have been a big mystery, a phenomenon even, except we had a slow hot water leak for the last 2 months of winter which evidently kept this Asclepias plant alive.

I had to dig it up anyway, needing the plant for Monarchs at the butterfly garden I manage at our local elementary school. So I had to take a photo record while I was at it.

Just shows to go ya, there is ALWAYS something good in every situation. Having to locate a hot water leak, and get it repaired took some time. Meanwhile we were turning the system off and on to use for showers, dishes, and laundry, was a real throw back to what people had to do before indoor water heaters. We have a whole new appreciation for such amenities now. A nice little surprise to welcome the Monarch and Queen butterflies with an established host for which to lay their eggs. Sure I will have lots of this plant species for summer, however this one will make me giggle every time I look at it.

Deb

Here is a picture of this determined little plant...Ta da! A. curassavica

This message was edited Apr 13, 2011 10:05 AM

Congratulations!!

I wonder if the warmth from the kitchen or the heat reflected from the house helped keep the soil warm enough for it to grow back??

Deb, we had many of them survive at the Fielder garden too, although not all.
The monarchs have been slow to show up this year, but I have seen some.
Josephine.

I wish mine had come back but so far I don't think it has. I was so excited last fall when I found a monarch cat on it feeding away.
C

Stephanie~ This is the first one that has ever come back over the winter... Yeah, being on the south side helped, but it was right behind my stove/oven in the kitchen as well. Oh, and then there was the hot water leak.

Maybe I should sprinkle some seeds in the same spot this year and see if they come back. I can transplant them next spring as well.

That's amazing Josephine, that some of the Fielder Garden MW came back... and without a stove behind them, lol. Maybe it's that rich compost you make. :-)

Yep C! It's always encouraging to see a cat on carefully planted hosts. I was able to get 2 broods of over a dozen each last year, and twice that the year before. Sad and sadder.

Yes Jo the numbers are dreadfully low lately. Everyone needs to have at least one or 2 Milkweeds (Asclepias) in their garden... Either tropical or the perennial Antelope horn (A. verdis, ooOO I think OOoo), on the roadsides. I think these are the 2 favs of Monarchs coming through Texas. I haven't had any luck with the A. incarnata.

D

I haven't either Deb, with the plants or the monarchs eating them, but I keep hoping, i saw a monarch laying eggs on mine, but when i went to look the next day they were gone.
I guess we need to go right after them and pick the eggs right after they lay them.
Josephine.

The swallowtail cats are already demolishing the rue.

Yeah Josephine, Guess we need to cage the eggs we find. There are a few I don't, and those are mostly G. frits and Pipevine ST in l later instars.

Cool Christie!!
I have seen several of the Giant ST and Black ST already. I have a few Black ST cats on my Dill now. :-S

No Monarch cats here yet either. But yes, the BST are bounding as are the Giant ST on the Citrus.

My curassavica comes back every year. This year it did have a little less growth, but is showing up more now.

I looked last night(with a flashlight!) and I think I see something coming up near the plant, so mine might be back too.

Even down here in the "banana-belt", this particular milkweed only sometimes comes back from its roots. I've also learned it is not particularly happy about being moved once it's "woody." Why is it that plants often reseed where you least want them? I really hate pulling seedlings, but always have to do so. I also am puzzled by the fact that some of these plants branch beautifully and make really great-looking plants; whereas, others, no matter how often pinched to improve their looks, always look rank and weedy. I've tried to determine if "bushy" ones produce "bushy" seedlings, but with only mixed results. 'Tis a mystery. Mine are already blooming.

Mine did not survive but my neighbor's curassavica across the street did. They are blooming and we saw a tiny cat yesterday. Ive only seen a couple monarch adults so far. I have spicebush for the first time this year. Have not seen any activity yet. Had lots of Salt Marsh cats and saw 2 adults.

This message was edited May 5, 2011 11:03 PM

Those salt marsh cats are driving me nuts, finding them everywhere!

The same here they are everywhere at all the gardens,