Monarchs migrating dropped 59% this past winter, we now have 1/15th the number of monarchs making the trip that we had in 1997. I had a milkweed plant spotted to raid for seed last august, but forgot to get them. Does anyone have seed?
milkweed seeds
I am not sure, i will check tomorrow.
thank you. I will try to take a walk in the morning and see if that plant is still standing, but have 2 year old granddaughter, walking requires much attention. (she loves to walk though)
I can bring you a plant, Gypsi. Do you want it?
http://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds.htm
Check this website and thank you for helping Monarch butterflies.
Send a self addressed, stamped envelope for Butterfly Seeds appropriate for your area to:
Suggested Contribution $3 or more. Check payable to "Live Monarch"
Live Monarch - Seed Campaign
3003-C8 Yamato Road #1015
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
I would take it, but I have room for a lot more than one plant. Let me see what I find when i walk today, if I can find the milkweed seeds. I already have a butterfly garden, but milkweed I only had one and I lost it in the drought
Marty,
Can you grow milkweed in a planter? If not, I have a spot in a bed I could let it run wild. Could I get some milkweed from you? I need it to attract my Assassin Bugs again.
Didn't know what I had the first time, and didn't know it's the main food source for the ABs.
Thanks!
Linda
Linda yes. You can grow in a pot or in the ground. I'll bring you one to Hempstead. It is a very well-behaved plant. It gets quite tall and eventually forms a clump. When a new shoot shows up, I cut off the tallest one and root it to make another plant. I keep doing this and multiply that way. I dont get seeds every year so this is more reliable for me.
Gypsi, if you are wanting seeds, I'll just give the plant to Linda and you can go ahead and get some seeds. I may have some seeds I got in a swap last year and I will bring those to you.
I need seeds. Couldn't find the plant I spotted last fall. (couldn't get off in the high weeds with my 2 year old assistant either though)
Does milkweed attract assassin bugs? Like bee assassin bugs? because if it does, those butterflies may have to visit milkweed elsewhere. I went to the files, but anyone with more info is welcome to enlighten me.
This says that assassin bugs are general feeders meaning they will eat any insect but this article says they have no reliable documentation that there is an assassin bug that prefers bees or appears to stalk bees. the one shown in the photo is not one Ive ever seen on my milkweed. They are on the milkweed to eat the gigantic aphids that always seem to be present on the milk weed. Right now my milkweed is covered with Lady bugs eating aphids. I have lots of lady bugs all over my garden. Hope this helps.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-08_bee_assassin_bug.htm
I have a milkweed that dropped many seeds last fall. Can amyone tell me what a seedling looks like so I don't pull them? Picture would be great. Thanks.
Here is a close up of the plant. I dont have a photo of a very young seedling. I will look for one and get back to you.
Here is a photo from the wildflower center showing a young seedling.
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=20170
Thanks, steadycam3. I will watch for these. Also saw your idea about cutting off a shoot and rooting it. I have new shoots coming up from last year's plant.
The seeds have wings like dandelions so if I get seeds, sometimes they are off to parts unknown before i know it so the cutting method is more reliable for me.
that is much prettier than wild milkweed.
bezziec
Here some pictures for you.
In my garden the seedlings will pop out maybe in April.
The new leaves look pointy. My Milkweed does re-seed freely every year !
drthor--Thanks for the pictures. I had seen many of your pics that you post. Your flowers are beautiful.
I am at the northeast corner of Austin, so I think my plants may be a bit ahead of your zone. I am in 8b.
After looking at the link that steadycam3 posted, I think that I have identified one seedling today. I put a bamboo stake beside it so that I can watch it and not rush out in a fit of enthusiasm and pull it. However, as it grows, it may be a weed. Time will tell.
Bezz-I'm northwest of Austin and it is colder here then DFW, soooo confusing.
1lisac--Are you out west in the hill country? It is always colder there than here. Has to do with elevation I think. We have had a few flowers that have bloomed all winter. Autumn salvia, varigated vinca and a rose. Many others have been blooming for over a month now.
bezziec
thanks for your nice comments.
Yes, wait before pulling anything in the garden right now.
This is the time of the year that lots of FREE seedlings are popping out everywhere in the garden.
I always let re-seed my red poppies and right now those seedlings are everywhere ... they look like a weed ... but I know that soon they will be a "show-stopper" ...
Growing up in Italy, I remember fields of red poppies everywhere ...
suggestions on where to buy milkweed seeds please?
drthor---yes, I have pink poppies everywhere, even growing in pea gravel. Last year my DH thought he was being helpful and pulling up dandelions. This year he does no weeding. LOL
Gypsi,
I am posting this link again for you. You can buy or get free Milkweed seeds from this website.
http://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds.htm
Check this website and thank you for helping Monarch butterflies.
Send a self addressed, stamped envelope for Butterfly Seeds appropriate for your area to:
Suggested Contribution $3 or more. Check payable to "Live Monarch"
Live Monarch - Seed Campaign
3003-C8 Yamato Road #1015
Boca Raton, Florida 33434
Thank you - will send for them tomorrow.
ordered 10 plants. thank you.