I saw only one this spring, but I think I don’t have enough milkweed yet for them to decide to camp out. If you look at monarch population numbers, they’re below the threshold for stable populations. It’s so scary, I think populations this low are vulnerable to sudden collapse. I’m really hoping that’s not what it is, but I’m a bit concerned. All we can do is keep planting and spreading the word - your garden looks beautiful and yummy for monarchs if they can get there!
I have 2 in chrystalis and 2 catipillars. Eggs I collected didn't hatch . Since I am only seeing isolated monarchs every few days, I wonder if the eggs were not fertilized. I am planting milkweed and native pollinator plants. Thanks for the video. Great info. It is interesting to know what others are experiencing. Ludington MI
I’m in Dayton, and I haven’t seen any yet either. I planted butterfly weed for them earlier in the summer. I did see a black swallowtail laying eggs on my parsley a few days ago.
Only seen a few here. And when I do, it's one all alone. Plenty of common milkweed, and a several butterfly milkweed plants. Seeing one alone makes me wonder, is he lost ?
Just curious, have you ever had any difficulty getting swamp milkweed to bloom for you? I bought a swamp milkweed in a gallon pot 3 years ago at a local nursery. I've got it now in a large planter. It is very vigorous and grows quite large, but it has never bloomed or even set buds. Any idea what might be wrong? Thanks.
Thanks for the comment. Could one of a number of things. Usually stress related from what I have read. I've never grown milkweed in a container before so I have no experience except for plants in the ground. There is a good article at this website (gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/milkweed-not-flowering/) about how stress can cause milkweed to not flower. Don't give up on it...I have had Whorled Milkweed for 4-5 years and it just started blooming last year on 2 plants. This year 4 or 5 have bloomed. I know milkweeds like full sun and Swamp especially likes wet areas. Good luck!
Found some more info on Swamp Milkweed: monarchbutterflygarden.net/milkweed-plants-for-sale/ Asclepias Incarnata Pros • Takes over for fading common milkweed in summer • Preferred nectar source for monarchs and other pollinators • Important food source provides foliage for monarch butterfly caterpillars • Plays well with others, not an aggressive spreader • Easy to start from milkweed seeds • Transplants easy with no deep taproots • Sweet but subtle vanilla scent • Makes a great cut flower with its long lasting blooms • can use stem cuttings to raise monarch butterflies • Resistant to Deer and Rabbits • attractive seed pods Asclepias Incarnata Cons • Another milkweed species that aphids adore • Needs more moisture than other milkweed • Tiny pollinators buzzing around this can get annoying…however, this isn’t really a con since they’re pollinating your milkweed • Leaves are thin and dry out quickly when picked to feed monarch caterpillars Swamp Milkweed Growing Tips • Slow release fertilizer is optional. Over-fertilization can inhibit flowering • Second year plants are a great option for growing in containers (not rhizomatous like Asclepias syriaca)) • Cut off milkweed seed pods to prevent fall seeding • Grows well in average well-drained soils • Grows best in rich, wet soils including rain gardens, wet meadows, marshes, river bottomlands, water features, ponds, or lakes (plants will even grow submerged in water) • Try a mass planting of 5+ plants to attract a bounty of monarchs, bees, hummingbirds and other beneficial pollinators • or bind them shut with organza bags if you want to collect mature asclepias incarnata seeds • Swamp milkweed leaves often turn purple in late summer and fall. Senescence is a normal occurrence and green, healthy leaves will return next spring.
I saw only one this spring, but I think I don’t have enough milkweed yet for them to decide to camp out. If you look at monarch population numbers, they’re below the threshold for stable populations. It’s so scary, I think populations this low are vulnerable to sudden collapse. I’m really hoping that’s not what it is, but I’m a bit concerned. All we can do is keep planting and spreading the word - your garden looks beautiful and yummy for monarchs if they can get there!
Thanks so much for your comments. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more Monarchs next season.
I'm in south bend, in, I've seen some.
Thanks for commenting. That is awesome. They seem to have come up through western Indiana and into Michigan totally skipping Ohio...
They came to my garden this year. Last year and the year before were not great.
Thanks for commenting. Glad you are getting some this year.
I did see some in PA before we relocated in June, but not a ton of
thanks for commenting
I have 2 in chrystalis and 2 catipillars. Eggs I collected didn't hatch . Since I am only seeing isolated monarchs every few days, I wonder if the eggs were not fertilized. I am planting milkweed and native pollinator plants. Thanks for the video. Great info. It is interesting to know what others are experiencing. Ludington MI
Thanks for commenting. I saw on the 2024 Monarch Migration map that there were many sightings in Michigan. Not so many in Ohio.
I’m in Dayton, and I haven’t seen any yet either. I planted butterfly weed for them earlier in the summer. I did see a black swallowtail laying eggs on my parsley a few days ago.
Thanks for the comment. I'm in the extreme NW corner of Ohio. We had a Giant Swallowtail that I've seen a couple of times.
I have not seen any monarch butterflies. I have seen a few other types in my yard. I have swamp milkweed and whorled milkweed. Thanks for the video.
Your are welcome. Thanks for the comment.
I've seen many other kinds of butterflies, but no monarch butterflies here in Bloomington Indiana
Thanks for the comment. Seems to be the same all over this year!
Only seen a few here. And when I do, it's one all alone. Plenty of common milkweed, and a several butterfly milkweed plants. Seeing one alone makes me wonder, is he lost ?
Thanks for commenting. They seem to be pretty scarce this year for some reason. Hopefully next year will be better.
@@CEGNatives What's a little strange is for me milkweed is one of the easiest plants to grow, but I'm not seeing it anywhere but in my own yard.
Butterflies are extremely rare here. Unfortunately I think they’re pretty much done.
Thanks for commenting. I'm starting to think it is a bad butterfly year most everywhere...
In my location I have lots. South Central PA
Thanks for commenting. Lucky for you!! Enjoy them for me :) I have a yard full of milkweed and other pollinator plants and no butterflies!!
Just curious, have you ever had any difficulty getting swamp milkweed to bloom for you? I bought a swamp milkweed in a gallon pot 3 years ago at a local nursery. I've got it now in a large planter. It is very vigorous and grows quite large, but it has never bloomed or even set buds. Any idea what might be wrong? Thanks.
Thanks for the comment. Could one of a number of things. Usually stress related from what I have read. I've never grown milkweed in a container before so I have no experience except for plants in the ground. There is a good article at this website (gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/milkweed-not-flowering/) about how stress can cause milkweed to not flower. Don't give up on it...I have had Whorled Milkweed for 4-5 years and it just started blooming last year on 2 plants. This year 4 or 5 have bloomed. I know milkweeds like full sun and Swamp especially likes wet areas. Good luck!
Found some more info on Swamp Milkweed: monarchbutterflygarden.net/milkweed-plants-for-sale/
Asclepias Incarnata Pros
• Takes over for fading common milkweed in summer
• Preferred nectar source for monarchs and other pollinators
• Important food source provides foliage for monarch butterfly caterpillars
• Plays well with others, not an aggressive spreader
• Easy to start from milkweed seeds
• Transplants easy with no deep taproots
• Sweet but subtle vanilla scent
• Makes a great cut flower with its long lasting blooms
• can use stem cuttings to raise monarch butterflies
• Resistant to Deer and Rabbits
• attractive seed pods
Asclepias Incarnata Cons
• Another milkweed species that aphids adore
• Needs more moisture than other milkweed
• Tiny pollinators buzzing around this can get annoying…however, this isn’t really a con since they’re pollinating your milkweed
• Leaves are thin and dry out quickly when picked to feed monarch caterpillars
Swamp Milkweed Growing Tips
• Slow release fertilizer is optional. Over-fertilization can inhibit flowering
• Second year plants are a great option for growing in containers (not rhizomatous like Asclepias syriaca))
• Cut off milkweed seed pods to prevent fall seeding
• Grows well in average well-drained soils
• Grows best in rich, wet soils including rain gardens, wet meadows, marshes, river bottomlands, water features, ponds, or lakes (plants will even grow submerged in water)
• Try a mass planting of 5+ plants to attract a bounty of monarchs, bees, hummingbirds and other beneficial pollinators
• or bind them shut with organza bags if you want to collect mature asclepias incarnata seeds
• Swamp milkweed leaves often turn purple in late summer and fall. Senescence is a normal occurrence and green, healthy leaves will return next spring.