A rather inglorious name for the flower that is the favored host of the Monarch butterfly. These have popped up in several places on our new lot. Hopefully I'll get a chance to catch a few of the monarch's in action soon.

Meanwhile, a Japanese beetle and a crew of ants are checking everything out, making sure it's ready for the Monarchs. (And probably nibbling on the tender bits...)

Asclepias syriaca

{{gwi:59940}}

*By the way, that flower head is about 3 inches in diameter.*