Any Monarch Butterfly fans here??

[Danaus]

If so, now is the time to start next summers flower garden. Milkweed and Butterfly weed seeds (the only plants a Monarch caterpillar can eat) need to be sown in fall for spring sprouting. Butterfly attracting plants, asters, butterfly bush, goldenrod, ironweed, joe-pye weed, and others perform best if planted in early fall.

[Bestofour]

Hi there! My asters are blooming already. I don't have any milkweed seed and can't find any in my usual places. Any suggestions?

[Danaus]

I could send you some. Email me your addy and I'll get them out as soon as the pods ripen. How dumb of me, addy isn't in my profile. Danaus29@columbus.rr.com

[johnsam]

How deep do you plant Butterfly weed seeds? Just toss on ground or what! I put loads of seeds out and none have grown. Only plants that I have bought or dug up have grown!

Sam

[Danaus]

The ones I did buy, don't know if they really are butterfly weed, I planted 1/4 inch deep and just dumped them on the ground. They haven't grown much and look like a weed (totally NOT like milkweed) so they almost got pulled several times. The ones I bought I planted in the spring after it warmed up. Just a fluke or dumb luck, I don't know. I put mine in a wet mushy area in the back yard and in a flower pot. It could be that the ones you got were just not viable. That happens sometimes. Can you fill me in on how you planted yours? Maybe we can figure it out.

[johnsam]

Most of the seeds were just kind raked into the dirt. I put them is a large variety of places - actually if they bloomed, boy would I have some plants!!

Howevewr, lite dirt, sand, somewhat moist, dry, woods, open - doesn't seem to have mattered. This was a bad year with all the rain. I was wondering if they could have been just drowned and washed out??

I intend to hit it again this fall. Have to get more seeds. If you have extra's, I would appreciate some. As I have all sorts of things, you might want to post a wish list, and I'll check it out.

Best

[Danaus]

I don't have butterfly weed seeds, just plain old milkweed. Pink flowers, 6 foot tall, midsummer flowering. If you want some I'll just send you some. I already have more seeds than the state of Texas could use in a season and no real wish list this year. Email me your addy and I'll add you to the list. Of course there's also the common milkweed that has pale pinkish-green flowers and grew to over 6 feet. Not too many seed pods on those though. And tons of regular milkweed that was only 2 to 3 feet tall but had lots of fragrant flowers. Let me know which you want.

I too think your seeds may have been washed away. I was lucky to get mine in and sprouted between storms but even then I got less than 10 plants and spent $1.49 plus tax for those few seeds.

[deb_in_nc]

My plants don't get a chance to set seed. The cats eat it all.

Debbie