Milkweed Seeds
It’s WORDLESS WEDNESDAY but this is not quite wordless. But it does have some special photographs of Lia pulling the milkweed seeds out of the dried pods.
The Monarch butterflies need milkweed plants to lay their eggs. Milkweed is the only plant that monarch butterflies lay their eggs on and that their caterpillars can eat. Right now the Monarch butterfly is an endangered species and people are encouraged to add Milkweed plants to their yards and gardens. When we visited Maine, there were so many beautiful Monarch buterflies fluttering around the fields filled with milkweed plants. Maine wants people to take the dried milkweed pods home to plant for the butterflies.
So Lia and I got busy and picked up a few dried milkweed pods to bring back to South Carolina and hope to give the Monarach butterflies a new home in our yard. This is our picture story of Lia’s first step of getting the milkweed pods ready to dry and then plant.
Lia pulled all the milkweed seeds off the pods and had a fun time watching the silky insides float around like bubbles and land on her fingers. We have a jar full of seeds and will plant them in hopes they grow milkweed for the Monarch butterflies.
Didn’t know that Monarch’s have an affinity for Milkweed!
Oh my Roy, you mean I actually gave you information you didn’t know!? I’m hoping the Milkweed will grow in a year or two and we’ll see Monarch butterflies in our yard.
How fun! And how times have changed. As a kid, milkweeds were weeds and there was an abundance of butterflies. So glad you’re making a difference. Great blog post
I remember having fields of milkweed when I was younger Lisa and yes tons of butterflies. But back then we didn’t realize tht was their food! I’m hoping we can make even a tiny difference for the Monarchs.
Howdy Martha and Lia, What a great article on Milkweed and Monarchs! I had no idea that is all their young ate or that they were endangered. Thank you for teaching Lia and me about how we can continue to protect the butterflies. One of my first blog posts on the UBC was a poem I wrote as a child called, “Protect the Butterflies.” Thank you for reminding me about loving and protecting nature. Sending lots of light and virtual hugs. Jaime
Nature is so important to both Lia and me Jaime. I’m so glad she is such a caring soul with everything, even tiny little creatures. Glad this blog brought back memories of your poem!
Hi Lia and GG Mama! I really liked this post. I love butterflies. Lia, you did a good job getting the seed out for the pods.
Thanks Amanda, hopefully we will have milkweed plants soon and see the Monarch butterflies!
Once you start planting them it will take a little while but the butterflies will find you. I wish more people would do that and that the states would plant them along the hwy. Good work Lia
But you know Lia and me, we’re impaitent and want them to grow immediately Chef William! LOL But we’ll patiently wait and hope to see Monarch butterflies soon. Lia says, “I want to save the butterflies!”