This may be a silly question . . . Are butterflies repelled by marigolds. I recently planted a huge amount of milkweed, which usually guarentees monarch visitors on a regular basis, but I haven't had many takers. Only a few monarch eggs in a month. My milkweeds are usually covered with caterpillars by now. Are the monarchs not back? Is it because I have the milkweed surrounded by marigolds? What gives?
Marigolds Repelent?
Jellyneck-
Are the egg's being eaten? Or the babies??? Last summer I was feeling the same way you do but upon further investigation I discovered that everyone was getting "munched" before I could get them. I had to follow the "Moms" and remove the eggs in order to have anyone survive. It was crazy!
~Adrienne
I've been protecting the cats that I have with paint strainers. It makes it a little harder for the wasps. That's not the main problem. My biggest problem is that I don't see many Monarchs visiting my milkweed. And believe me I've been watching. . . . I've recently converted to stay-at-home mom. I've got a little time to watch for them now. Where are they? Obviously they have visited my plant, but just not much. I read somewhere that marigolds send out a repellent scent to bugs. I just wanted to make sure that wasn't happening with my Monarchs. I should stop obsessing.
Jellyneck - That's a good point about the Marigolds. Though I think if your Milkweed plants are tall, then it should not be a problem with some shorter Marigolds under them. I use marigolds as a bug repellent near my roses and it does seem to keep some of the bugs away. Interesting question you are asking.
As an experiment, would it be possible to plant some milkweed somewhere else in your yard/garden without marigolds near them?
Good idea. I'll put some in a pot somewhere else in my backyard. We'll see.