Monarch Supporter

**Scorpio Rising** 6/17/2015, 6:16 pm

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? flower

Marc Iverson 6/17/2015, 7:36 pm

Keep a fresh bowl of water nearby, maybe? It sure attracts the bees around here. I practically get swarmed when I put one out.

**Scorpio Rising** 6/17/2015, 9:13 pm

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!

landarch 6/17/2015, 10:41 pm

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.

**AtlantaMarie** 6/18/2015, 7:17 am

Parsley is a good attractor for monarch (?) caterpillars.

**Scorpio Rising** 6/18/2015, 7:55 am

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!

**Scorpio Rising** 6/18/2015, 7:57 am

Landarch, I can't see your link...

Goosegirl 6/18/2015, 8:02 am

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.

landarch 6/18/2015, 9:16 am

sorry about that...

http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/butterflies-young-hosts.html

**Scorpio Rising** 6/18/2015, 5:31 pm

@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.

What a shame . Their habitat is disappearing really fast unfortunately. I would have loved to see that!

FeedMeSeeMore 6/19/2015, 12:18 pm

@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.

Good tip worth trying.

Windmere 6/19/2015, 5:03 pm

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.

**Scorpio Rising** 6/20/2015, 9:59 am

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! Wink

Landarch, great article, thanks. Had no idea about all the trees that butterflies rely on!

Marc Iverson 6/20/2015, 8:00 pm

@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.

**Scorpio Rising** 6/20/2015, 8:51 pm

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

**Scorpio Rising** 7/29/2015, 5:54 pm

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.... cheers

Windmere 7/29/2015, 5:57 pm

That's awseom Scorpio. I've got two that came up (orange kind). I'm planning on planting many this fall.

**Scorpio Rising** 7/29/2015, 6:11 pm

@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!

Windmere 7/29/2015, 7:06 pm

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).

**Scorpio Rising** 7/30/2015, 9:22 am

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** 8/1/2015, 11:52 am

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?

Windmere 8/10/2015, 5:05 pm

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.

**Scorpio Rising** 8/10/2015, 5:48 pm

Me too, Windmere, he is so pretty ! Gulf Fritillary?

**Scorpio Rising** 8/10/2015, 5:49 pm

Nice shot, is he on a zinnia?

Windmere 8/11/2015, 7:13 am

He sure does look like a Gulf Frittilary! Yep, that's a zinnia.

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