According to the map I am zone 4b (in upstate New York), however I haven't spent my first winter here to know first-hand. I would appreciate anything that can take some well-draining sand and our winters here.

Not familiar with the Tuberosa from my research, however if it does well for you in zone 5 I would be happy to give it a try! If you have Swamp milkweed, I would love to get some seeds from you. I will be winter sowing this coming winter/spring, so the milkweed should germinate well. I'm not sure if the plants would be large enough to take this first winter if I start them this summer, but then again I've never grown milkweed to know for sure.

Is it better to group nectar sources together, or should I spread them out on my property? It'll be cottage-style, and I personally love the idea of being able to tuck them everywhere.

Emma

I would certainly wait for winter sowing to plant seeds. That's how I have had my best success. As far as grouping of nectar sources, they seem to attract more activity when plants of the same type are planted in groups of at least three, and large swaths are even better.

Martha

That what I figured, so that's perfectly fine, I'm already saving plastic jugs for this coming winter. Any suggestion on how many seeds per jugs, and how deep to plant? I would still love to get some milkweed seed from you, should I pm you for that?

I do already have some flowers that I've read attract pollinators, thyme and salvia, so I'll start cuttings and look into dividing them this coming spring. From my research I already have a short list forming: hardy lavender, borage, and asters. I'm thinking seeds are the way to go, least the nursery sprays a pesticide on anything. And I can get a large quantity for much cheaper.

I've seen suggestions to provide water for the butterflies. Is this just a shallow tray placed at bloom height? Would other pollinators benefit as well?

Thank you for all the advice!

Emma

I have some Tropical Milkweed (A curassavica) seeds if you want them, although they are zone 9-11, so they won't return unless they reseed.

Emma, It's really great that you found milkweed on your property and you want to grow a garden for the monarchs and pollinators. If you have the space I recommend growing Joe Pye Weed, Verbena bonariensis and New York Ironweed for nectar plants. My monarchs are all over these plants. I have a large stand of Joe Pye Weed which grow 9 ft tall. The Ironweed is 7 ft tall. The verbena is 4 feet tall. They also love Purple Coneflower, New England Aster, Goldenrod, Buttonbush, Sneezeweed, and Blazing Star/Liatris. I can send you some seeds it you want some for your butterfly garden.

Wow! I'm going to have to drink milk faster so I can have enough jugs saved to wintersow them all!

Mblan, I would like to try some Tropical milkweed from you. Perhaps I can container grow and over-winter them in our unheated garage? They would look very pretty on our patio.

Jensyen, I would appreciate whatever you can spare of everything you mentioned. I understand the Verbena is not winter hardy here, but it is so beautiful. Your yard must be amazing!

Does anyone provide a water source for their butterflies or pollinators? They sell such things commercially, but I don't see many references of people using them. Makes me wonder if they are helpful or not.

Emma

Emma, You could certainly try! I'm going to try to overwinter a very cool variagated milkweed I found in a local plant nursery a week or so ago. Too late to plant it out and get seed pods (who knows if the seeds would even be viable)

Shoot me a message with your address and I'll send you some seeds.

Once I have finished collecting seeds, I will see if I have enough to send a mixed seed collection. We can exchange addresses via private messaging.

Martha

Docmom, sounds good. Would it be easiest for you to either pm me or just reply here when you're finished, I don't want to pester if you're busy collecting seeds still.

Mblan, I tried to send you a message, but I'm not sure if you've enable messaging on your account? I had to do this: How to send messages

Emma

Water source - I have a small shallow birdbath in my tiny city garden. It's made out of sort of rough "cast stone" material. Birds do use it, but I also see wasps and bees regularly drinking from it - particularly wasps. The birdbath is rectangular and doesn't have the sloped sides that are supposed to be better for birds and pollinators so that they don't fall in - but I think because it is so small and because the surface is rough, the bees and wasps don't seem to have a problem hanging on when they lean in to drink, so that I never see any drowned ones floating in the water. I also have some stones that I put in the birdbath, but the pollinators don't sit on them very often, although sometimes small birds do.

I have not seen any butterflies coming to drink plain water. I don't think butterflies drink plain water, mostly. They do like mud and other gooey messes. I have tried to provide "puddling" stations for the males to come and drink from and get their minerals, with various concoctions of water, soy sauce, sugar, electrolyte drink, etc., but I haven't had any luck with those. I do often get butterflies, particularly the Red Admirals which are most abundant in my neighborhood, coming down to land on the ground or mulch shortly after a rain or a watering.

I intended my birdbath as a focal point for the garden, but certainly you don't have to buy something special for watering pollinators. A shallow dish of some kind would work just as well.

Emma, Try again.

I did have "everytime" selected. However below that there was a option that stated who could message me, and it was set to receive messages from "only people that follow me". You might want to check that on your profile as well.