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Butterfly Garden

Asclepias incarnata sprouting

11 years ago

We are having prolonged winter here in Oklahoma, with below average temps. During the past week, we have had over 5 inches of rain. This rain is long overdue. Today I ventured out on the spongy lawn to check for returning milkweed. Last year's milkweed was up by now, and I had eggs. I found that the Swamp Milkweed is putting up shoots of new growth. So, there will be LFP available for the Monarchs when they arrive. I also have a couple of flats of A curassavica setting out. I went back and checked my records on Journey North--yes, you can check your reports--for the past 5 years. It's interesting to see the dates I reported the first MW sightings and first Monarch sightings. This year is not the latest for milkweed. Last year, we definitely had an early spring.

I hope that you will report your sightings to Journey North for your area of the country.

Sandy

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Comments (6)

MissSherry
11 years ago
Sandy, I've never reported my monarch sightings to Journey North, but I will this year. Last year I not only sighted, but got eggs from a spring monarch, unusual for this area.

Congrats on the rain and the sprouting swamp milkweed, especially the rain! And I know what you mean about a prolonged winter with below average temps. After a dry spell and warm temps, we had 1.7" of rain, and it's cloudy and 60 degrees now, dreary, but I was glad for the rain. I knew the rain was coming, so I planted a lot of plants and set out some seeds, which will benefit from the rain.

I don't know what butterflies and bees use for a hidey hole, but before we had the cool front, there were bees EVERYWHERE and I saw many butterflies. On this cloudy, cool day, they're practically gone!

Sherry
butterflymomok
Original Author
11 years ago
Sherry,

I know what you mean. I often wonder where the butterflies spend the cold, wet days. Tomorrow, our temps will finally top 70 degrees again. 70 degree days have been few and far between. I'll get out and look for leps as I can't work the soil--too wet. Probably have to wear boots, LOL. I have some bugs on my list to try to find this spring. At least, I can keep the Asclepias curassavica seedlings out on the patio as it isn't supposed to freeze again until next week. I need to put a piece of black plastic under them and the tomatoes to create some warmth.

I think it's a good idea that everyone on the forum report their sightings. I'll be encouraging people in my posts this year.

Sandy
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I was surprised at the depth of the tap root on A. curassavica. When I pull up the old plants in early spring, they had tap roots about 3' long! I didn't know that incarnata does not have a tap root. I've only planted seedlings, and just figured they hadn't developed a tap root yet. Congratulations on all your seedlings everyone! Both my A. purpurescens have been eaten to the bones (or stems, LOL!). The darned milkweed beetles have attacked them twice. While I keep trying to get the juvenile beetles and eggs, I guess I miss a few. They always go to the tiny plants, including some of the curassavicas, but they really loved the purpurescens, so beware. I think if I had potted them up into pots I might have been able to better protect them. Ah, well, we live and learn! Susan
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I hear they don't like heat and I see some list them as 8b for this reason. I'm relocating mine to somewhere with a little more afternoon shade and hoping that'll help them be more vigorous. Edit: I also had the bud issue (never bloomed) and I did see some black small milkweed beetles on the plant, might be related? I have aphids on the non-native but they don't touch the Swamp ones, thankfully.
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Mary Leek
11 years ago
Went to report my A. incarnata sprouts, up about 2 inches now, but the sighting report needs a photo so will have to wait until tomorrow.

While it has been damp and cold here off and on the past couple of weeks, I think we've turned the page toward spring. I spotted some Butterfly weed nubbins pushing up today. No sign of common MW yet and it's usually the first MW I notice in spring.

Mary
butterflymomok
Original Author
11 years ago
Mary,

I'm surprised they need a photo. Maybe they want to post a photo and use your report in the weekly news. I haven't seen any butterfly weed popping up yet. This is such a slow spring. We have more cold weather coming through later in the week.

Sandy
PKponder TX Z7B
11 years ago
We have a incarnata that has already reached 12 inches tall. It is a bumper crop for my shady garden with more than a dozen seedlings! I am really happy that the intermittent freezes haven't harmed it. I have never seen any eggs on it but in years past there were only a couple of plants in the area that I scattered seed 3 years ago.
butterflymomok
Original Author
11 years ago
PK, that is great. Texas is seeing Monarchs so it's good that food has sprouted. Even if you don't find eggs, you have the plants for food. I find an occasional egg on the incarnata, but I do find caterpillars on the plants, and I use the leaves to feed caterpillars I bring in to raise. Here's to a great Monarch season!

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