Have you ever noticed fewer monarch butterflies are visiting your garden in the last few years? The monarch populations are declining all over North America, and one reason is the loss of habitat. Want to stop the decline and bring more of these fluttering beauties back into your garden? Plant milkweed!
The milkweed family is the sole host plant for monarch caterpillars. Adult butterflies eat nectar from many species of plants, including milkweed flowers, but they search out milkweed plants to lay their eggs singly on the undersides of the leaves. Hatching caterpillars easily devour up to 20 leaves each as they grow. Milkweed foliage contains a toxin that caterpillars ingest that deters predators with its bad taste.
I grow common milkweed, which is native in nearly all of North America, and is a pretty plant with lots to offer: Big pink blossoms are a pollinators paradise, and many insects besides monarchs derive some benefit from this plant. The more pollinators in your garden means better flower, fruit and vegetable crops.
Many people consider milkweed a weed, so if you are worried about these plants spreading too much, there are a few things you can do. Milkweed multiplies through underground rhizomes and by seed, keep a small milkweed clump contained by sinking 12-18-inch plastic or metal edging into the ground around the plants. Or periodically spade into the ground around the base of the plants and remove any wandering rhizomes from the soil. Cut green seed pods off so they can’t produce seed. It doesn’t bother the monarch as they feed on leaves and stems as caterpillars and nectar as adults, they won’t even notice the pods are gone.
Three native milkweed plants to plan in your garden for zone 3-9 are: Common milkweed, Butterfly weed and Showy milkweed.
It is with sincere appreciation to everyone who so diligently work in the Botanical, Noble Boulder and Memorial gardens. Our gardens have come a long way in the past three years and they are beautiful!
Reminder: Our Fall garden clean up is scheduled for Tuesday, October 12, 9:00-? In case of inclement weather; Saturday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. -?
Happy September Birthday to member Marilyn.
September Cheers!
Melody Crossett Jones
Caro Garden Club President
Comments