Hi there--So glad to have another butterfly gardener come on board! The plant you mentioned I had to look up--looks like it is from Asia and is restricted to warmer zones? What state/region are you in--that can help a lot with recommendations. There are many attractive native species of milkweeds for Monarchs--Swamp milkweed or Asclepias incarnata is a great one; it does like moist conditions, but can adapt to when it's a little drier. I usally supplement mine with water from my dehumidifier. It's planted with some Sweet Joe-Pye Weed too. So, for starters, native milkweeds are good--they will come back year after. But planting what you have now won't hurt anything since it won't survive your winters. I would wait until after frost to put out your plant, and maybe start the seeds indoors in a month or so if you have a situation to start seeds indoors. You'll want to have some nectar plants to feed the adult butterflies--good ones to have are species of Coneflowers (echinaceas), Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia species), eupatoriums (Bonesets, Joe Pye Weeds), native asters and goldenrods for the very important fall nectar. It seems many areas in the U.S. have some relatives of these plants. If Butterfly Bush is not invasive in your area, that is also another sure magnet for butterflies. Annuals that seem to be universally loved are zinnias (single flowered variety), Mexican Sunflowers, Verbena bonariensis. These are easy to grow from seed, and will definitely bring in butterflies and other pollinators. Thank you for sharing your land with the important animals. Please let us know if you have any more questions. I'm linking to a blog I keep for my local chapter of Wild Ones, an organization devoted to native plants because of all the good they do. I've written a little bit of some of our favorite plants for this area--there may be some overlap for you. There might be a Wild Ones chapter in your area which is a great resource--connecting you to people with your interest and knowledge about where and what to plant. I applaud your decision to start small--keep it simple. That way it's not overwhelming. Even if you just planted milkweed and pollinator friendly annuals, that is a huge start. Best to you! Here is a link that might be useful: Garden friendly native plants

"am surprized you would bother to try to raise a Morea lily from seed." Yeah, I suppose there's no accounting for how folks choose to waste time on their hobbies. :) Guess I'm just one of those nostalgic types who will choose sentimental value over practicality. For example, I'll start a tree by rooting a cutting if it came from the house I grew up in. I once sprouted cherry seedlings from fruit eaten in a work meeting, and gifted my team with some of the plants potted into decorative containers. In the case of the iris seedlings, the seeds were collected (with permission) while on a walk with a friend. Of course it's easier to start plants from free divisions or to buy from a nursery, but there's something to be said about doing something difficult just to see if you can, and then passing on a meaningful gift of your labors to loved ones. Thanks to everyone who posted their advice and knowledge on this thread. The little plants seem to be doing well at this time (new growth!)and I think they're gonna be just fine.

tsugajunkie- the monarch generation that migrates south lives for 8-9 months. It's the northern migration that takes a few generations to reach Canada. I live just south of Minneapolis, and have released monarchs in October the past two years. If you want later monarchs, plant tropical milkweed. It's stays viable longer as a host/nectar plant AND it makes a good potted plant(so you can bring it in if there's an early cold snap). If you want more monarch-specific info, check out my facebook page, Tony Here is a link that might be useful: Monarch Butterfly Garden

Hi, I'm new on here, But I've been growing Iris for over 12 years I have over 18 Colors. I live in Wyoming and was always taught when splitting them to cut the leaves back to 3 inches, and I'm sorry they stop blooming when they are rhizon bound. You just dig them up in the fall cut em back and replant. If in really bad shape it will take up to 2 years to see blooms again, extra plants can always find a new home. I have a waiting list from my beds. BUT they will all rebloom.