I was thrilled to find a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) in my garden yesterday afternoon!
First monarch I’ve seen on the butterfly milkweed this year.
Butterfly milkweed is the host plant for the endangered monarch butterfly as well as a nectar source for other butterflies and bees.
Grown from seed two years ago, the butterfly milkweed plant is about two and one-half feet tall, with multiple stems currently covered in clusters of bright orange flowers.
A few feet away are four additional butterfly milkweed plants I winter sowed in 2024; each plant is about one and one-half feet tall.
And the one-year old plants are all blooming!
Which surprised me because butterfly weed can take up to three years before it blooms.
A couple hours after dinner, I saw another monarch butterfly (or could it have been the same one?) light on the butterfly milkweed.
I hope to see more soon!
Very beautifull 👍