Nature Study Monday: Milkweed

For the past few years I have been interested in attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to  a (our) garden and this is one plant that a butterfly garden can not be without.  Surprisingly, I didn't know what the plant looked like until late this summer and still have not seen one in bloom.  I purchased a couple of milkweed plants at the garden center in late summer and had the chance to see their airy seeds flit and float, blown by the breeze, the breath of a child, or of seemingly their own magical airiness, away to some home in the far corners of our garden or off to a neighbor's, where they may not be as welcome as they are here in our backyard.


Milkweed can (evidently) be a pretty intrusive plant so many folks pull them as soon as they sprout.  In fact, I read that the biggest "predator" of the milkweed plant is actually the gardener!  The leaves of the plant are poisonous so littles need to be kept away from the plant or watched closely around it.

Interestingly enough, the plant, which is host to the Monarch butterfly caterpillar, does not poison the insect but makes her poisonous to her own prey therefore giving her some protection against them.  How amazingly complex and so simple all at once!

In addition to being a host to the Monarch, it also attracts other butterflies, including the Swallowtail, and hummingbirds.  This plant really delights me (and others) and I can't wait to see it in blossom in the Spring!