Even though it’s still winter, now is the time to think about monarchs! Monarchs in the western US are especially at risk of extinction, but our monarchs east of the Rockies could use some help too. The single best thing you can do to help the monarch population is to plant native milkweed! Just a […]
Milkweed seeds can be started in the winter and basically left alone until they’re almost ready to transplant. For us, late January or February planting should give plenty of time for cold stratification. You will need containers. Gallon milk jugs or distilled water jugs work great, but you can also use 2 liter soda bottles […]
The monarch butterfly, with its unmistakable orange wings, is beautiful to behold. More importantly, it plays a vital role in pollination, contributing to our entire food chain. Numbers are down by as much as 53% this year for some varieties. The drop off is most likely due to loss of breeding habitat according to Doug […]
Here in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, fall is the best time to plant milkweed seeds. It’s too warm for the ground to be frozen but too cold for seeds to sprout before winter sets in. Exposing seeds to cool temperatures before the warmer temps of spring will cause them to break their dormancy and […]