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Google
Monarch Supporter
+17
Ginger Blue
Kelejan
hammock gal
Roseinarosecity
BeetlesPerSqFt
countrynaturals
FRED58
sanderson
yolos
mschaef
Windmere
FeedMeSeeMore
Goosegirl
AtlantaMarie
landarch
Marc Iverson
Scorpio Rising
21 posters
Page 1 of 9
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Monarch Supporter
I have planted 5 common milkweed plants (small!) in an area of my back yard that is vacant, and I am expecting 6 swamp milkweed plants from a Pennsylvania nursery any day. I have a butterfly bush, brand new, since I lost 2 huge ones winter before last. Cannot locate any butterfly weed anywhere, and neither can my local nursery. I have a large perennial bed in front, and medium area in back around patio/pool area. I have bee balm, daylilies, per. geraniums, Columbine, violets, loosestrife, etc.
Anything else I can do to help the monarchs, and collaterally, honeybees? Any particular plants, environmental controls to put in place?
Anything else I can do to help the monarchs, and collaterally, honeybees? Any particular plants, environmental controls to put in place?

Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
Keep a fresh bowl of water nearby, maybe? It sure attracts the bees around here. I practically get swarmed when I put one out.
Marc Iverson-
Posts : 3638
Join date : 2013-07-05
Age : 62
Location : SW Oregon
Re: Monarch Supporter
Good point, Marc. I think since I have the pool, I have always thought there was enough water. I think the butterflies and bees, etc. avoid it due to the chemicals... I am going to do a shallow water oasis for birds, bees, butterflies, in my perennial bed, which is out front away from the pool. This bowl will replace my ornamental but non-functional decorative sundial that serves no real purpose!
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
Borage and Walkers Low Catmint are currently covered in bees (bumble and honey) at both my garden locations.
Here's a good site for butterfly plantings...some plants are specific to adults...other plants may help feed caterpillars.
I know I find swallowtail caterpillars on my carrot plants each year...and I also plant several milkweed types (marsh, butterfly, Mexican whorled, scarlet). Once your plants bloom and set a seed pod, harvest and grow all you want the following year.
Here's a good site for butterfly plantings...some plants are specific to adults...other plants may help feed caterpillars.
I know I find swallowtail caterpillars on my carrot plants each year...and I also plant several milkweed types (marsh, butterfly, Mexican whorled, scarlet). Once your plants bloom and set a seed pod, harvest and grow all you want the following year.
landarch- Posts : 1152
Join date : 2012-01-22
Location : kansas city
Re: Monarch Supporter
Landarch, I actually planted a Walkers Low Catmint this year, has'nt bloomed though. I will put some Borage in. Thanks! AtlantaMarie, I will put some parsley in as well!
Last edited by Scorpio Rising on 6/18/2015, 7:56 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Typo)
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
Landarch, I can't see your link...
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
I had some milkweed sprout as volunteers several years ago, and have been spreading it through my perennial beds as much as I can each year. The house across the street from us used to have over 30 trees (large corner lot) and it was on the path of the Monarch Migration. A gorgeous sight to see! Unfortunately, the trees, little by little, all had to be cut down due to Dutch Elm Disease. The trees that were not affected were cut down by the new owners. I have no idea if the Monarchs perch in another yard in town now, or if they just skip this locale.
Goosegirl-
Posts : 3435
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 58
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: Monarch Supporter
sorry about that...
http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/butterflies-young-hosts.html
http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/butterflies-young-hosts.html
landarch- Posts : 1152
Join date : 2012-01-22
Location : kansas city
Re: Monarch Supporter
What a shame . Their habitat is disappearing really fast unfortunately. I would have loved to see that!Goosegirl wrote:I had some milkweed sprout as volunteers several years ago, and have been spreading it through my perennial beds as much as I can each year. The house across the street from us used to have over 30 trees (large corner lot) and it was on the path of the Monarch Migration. A gorgeous sight to see! Unfortunately, the trees, little by little, all had to be cut down due to Dutch Elm Disease. The trees that were not affected were cut down by the new owners. I have no idea if the Monarchs perch in another yard in town now, or if they just skip this locale.
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
Good tip worth trying.Marc Iverson wrote:Keep a fresh bowl of water nearby, maybe? It sure attracts the bees around here. I practically get swarmed when I put one out.
FeedMeSeeMore-
Posts : 143
Join date : 2014-05-06
Location : Georgia
Re: Monarch Supporter
I noticed a honeybee on one of my cosmos flowers this morning. It was the first honeybee I'd seen all season (we have bumblebees galore). Our cosmos make nice background plants, so if you have some rear space, that might be a good choice.
Windmere-
Posts : 1425
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 54
Location : Fayetteville, GA - Zone 7B - 8A
Re: Monarch Supporter
Received 6 swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) transplants in the mail yesterday from Rose Franklin's Perennials, they were in great shape. 4 pink, 2 white. Now where to plant them!? At least they won't mind the rain!
Landarch, great article, thanks. Had no idea about all the trees that butterflies rely on!

Landarch, great article, thanks. Had no idea about all the trees that butterflies rely on!
Last edited by Scorpio Rising on 6/20/2015, 10:01 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Forgot the article)
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
Scorpio Rising wrote:Good point, Marc. I think since I have the pool, I have always thought there was enough water. I think the butterflies and bees, etc. avoid it due to the chemicals... I am going to do a shallow water oasis for birds, bees, butterflies, in my perennial bed, which is out front away from the pool. This bowl will replace my ornamental but non-functional decorative sundial that serves no real purpose!
It's important to have rocks or something like that breaking the surface so that the bees can walk on them to the edge of the water and drink. Otherwise they sometimes drown. We used to have a pool and often found dead bees in it, and I started collecting a few dead bees in my water bowls before I started putting rocks in and the occasional stick in them.
Marc Iverson-
Posts : 3638
Join date : 2013-07-05
Age : 62
Location : SW Oregon
Re: Monarch Supporter
Makes sense, Marc, and I would not have thought of it. Will do just that!
PS...saw honey bees on my Zinnias today! And buzzing about the Buddleia
PS...saw honey bees on my Zinnias today! And buzzing about the Buddleia
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter

Oh my gosh, I am so happy! My Asclepias incarnata is blooming...look really carefully there for the tiny pink florets being completely upstaged by the annuals in the background....
No such prospects on the Asclepias syriaca, but I can wait....

Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
That's awseom Scorpio. I've got two that came up (orange kind). I'm planning on planting many this fall.
Windmere-
Posts : 1425
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 54
Location : Fayetteville, GA - Zone 7B - 8A
Re: Monarch Supporter
Windmere wrote:That's awseom Scorpio. I've got two that came up (orange kind). I'm planning on planting many this fall.
I am jealous, Windmere! I couldn't get my hands on the tuberosa variety to save my life! I even had my nursery people trying to find it....no go.
I have seen many butterflies on my loosestrifes, Buddleia, and flitting about the echinacea, and thymes. And some Monarchs!
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
The ones I have I planted from seeds I bought from Everwilde Farms. I planted a bunch in very inhospitable areas, and only two came up (I figured I'd have low results, so I'm happy to have the two).
Windmere-
Posts : 1425
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 54
Location : Fayetteville, GA - Zone 7B - 8A
Re: Monarch Supporter
I would be too! I really didn't expect any of these to bloom this year, they were really small when I got them, I mean like 4 to 6 inches tall! At least I can see what the pink swamp variety looks like!
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
OK, question; 2 of my 5 syriaca types are like laying on the ground at the stalk, not growing straight up. Do nothing? Cover the laying section to see if it roots? Cut back in spring hard to see if I can get a more upright habit?
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
Hey there Scorpio. I'm afraid I don't know the answers to the questions you raised in your previous post.
However, there last two or three days I've had a visitor that might make you smile:'

He just would not stay still, so it was very hard to capture any shot. I wish I could have gotten one with his wings open, but he wasn't cooperating. Oh well, I like this shot just the same.
However, there last two or three days I've had a visitor that might make you smile:'

He just would not stay still, so it was very hard to capture any shot. I wish I could have gotten one with his wings open, but he wasn't cooperating. Oh well, I like this shot just the same.
Windmere-
Posts : 1425
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 54
Location : Fayetteville, GA - Zone 7B - 8A
Re: Monarch Supporter
Me too, Windmere, he is so pretty ! Gulf Fritillary?
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
Nice shot, is he on a zinnia?
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8612
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Monarch Supporter
He sure does look like a Gulf Frittilary! Yep, that's a zinnia.
Windmere-
Posts : 1425
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 54
Location : Fayetteville, GA - Zone 7B - 8A
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