What an incredible surprise I had this weekend when I saw my first-of-year monarch caterpillar munching on swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) leaves in my backyard garden.
Continue reading Photo of the Week: First-of-Year Monarch Caterpillarmonarch
Photo of the Week: Monarch Butterfly on Butterfly Milkweed
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.
Continue reading Photo of the Week: Monarch Butterfly on Butterfly MilkweedPhoto of the Week: Monarch Butterfly on Swamp Milkweed
With my plans to create a more bird and butterfly friendly yard, last year I replanted one of my flowers beds with Swamp Milkweed and other native Michigan plants. The milkweed plants had a couple blossoms last summer, which surprised me. From my research, I understood it would take a year for milkweed to establish… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Monarch Butterfly on Swamp Milkweed