Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Could I convince you guys to plant Swamp Milkweed?

Here in southwest Colorado last year, we observed 5 individual Monarchs through the summer months on our property, where we have seen no others for the 13 years we've lived here. That, and reports from friends who own acreage with a medium sized orchard 25 miles form us, raised our hopes for a continuance of the western migration.

We've planted 3 species of milkweed on our ground. I check many of the plants during each growing season for caterpillars; I've never seen one yet. Maybe this year, right?

Thanks for the reminder that it's time to pull my seeds out of the freezer and put them in starter cells in the greenhouse.

Yay!

I'm really glad more of you are doing this.

For extra credit get in contact with local native nursery's and see what other pollinators need more plants around that you can spread on the property

ALso @4corners, if you have monarchs visiting milkweed you have had caterpillars, look closer

Unless wasps are eating the eggs I guess.

We (well the other half) registered as a Monarch waystation and ordered caterpillars. We have lots of field milkweed but no swamp milkweed. I'm looking to improve habitat at low cost and any tax credits along the way. I'd love to do a few acres of wildflowers but not ready to spend the $$$$ on seeds.

Does PA have any state dollars available for that?

I am amazed at some of the oddly specific programs that can be found in the Kansas agency websites.

Our Forest Service also used to have a Butterfly Bundle. It was very well designed to include bushes and wildflowers that would provide blooms throughout the entire season for the main native species of butterflies. I thought it was a brilliant idea, because the included plants bloomed sequentially.

With some research, you (or your wife) might be able to devise your own version applicable to your region.

I have not looked into much beyond "clean and green" for tax breaks. Any sort of tax break or free/discounted seeds and I'd be happy to implement. I have about 20 acres that I will mow annually and another 15 I mow as grass. I could put that to better use.

This morning on my pond dam...

Augie,

Excellent job of providing forage at your pond!

I've got thirty acres we signed up in the Wetland Reserve Program nine years ago. Put in two shallow wetland ponds for wildlife, have swamp milkweed and a lot of common milkweed. I always pick pods when I'm pheasant hunting around the midwest and spread them out there in the pasture when I go deer hunting.

On this morning's walk around the pond, spotted caterpillars on two of the swamp milkweeds on the dam. Didn't plant these but just tried not to mow them. Had seen monarch's in the area earlier.

Last little cold front from Canada pushed thousands of Monarchs down to our farm last weekend.

I see the orange aphids are chomping on your milkweed in the second picture. Sometimes they are bad all of the way down here in Kansas.

Anybody ID?


After...

is that arrowhead they are eating (those fuzzy orange aliens?)

Yeah, 5 days before it was the most beautiful stand I've had yet.. they made short work out of it.

Spilosoma virginica, aka the Virginian Tiger moth, whose caterpillar is called the yellow wooly bear.

I think...

"If you build it, [they] will come."

Fortunately, they ate your big arrowhead leaves at the end of the season. I am sure lots of nutrients have already been sent to the roots for next year's growth.