Grow Milkweed Plants Podcast
Episode 17
Milkweed at large, seeking out native milkweed in Washoe County, Nevada - 017
Invitation to the Grow Milkweed Plants facebook group
Here is a formal invitation to join the facebook group called Grow Milkweed Plants. Click on the You're INVITED image to be linked up with this cool group.
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Local milkweed report
Heartleaf milkweed - Asclepias cordifolia is going into full bloom at 5,000' and is amazing. Nearly 50 plants on a slope near Nyack. If you ever watched the show 'Ice Road Truckers' then you know the Nyack tow crew is putting their life on the line to rescue stranded motorists. Milkweed and monarchs are warm weather creatures, like myself.
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Mexican whorled milkweed - Asclepias fascicularis is pretty well established although it seems to be a bit behind the showy milkweed. Some have bloom clusters but are not ready to bloom. Aphids are pretty well covering a plant that is near to the biggest little butterfly garden in the world. The aphids are solid on a good 5-10 inch section on multiple stems. About 25% of the buds are also covered in aphids. The aphids are restricting the plants growth. Although the plant is on community property I feel like intervening is a good idea. I plant to test a few methods of aphid control.
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A little closer to home at the biggest little butterfly garden in the world the milkweed report has both highs and lows. Seeds sown at the end of winter, March 16th to be exact, they are taking root. Not all of them. But enough to have a nice bit of milkweed. In addition to milkweed I am seeing snap dragons, poppies, sunflowers, Canada vetch and Anise Hyssop. Unfortunately a mouse gained access to the garage and wreaked havoc on the milkweed seedlings that were growing in a 10" x 20" flat. That darn mouse chewed down about all of the 20 odd milkweed plants. Fortunately a few of them were not yet germinated and still have a chance to become caterpillar food. In addition to the flat that was being started under grow lights in the garage I put four other flats in a little greenhouse that I ordered online. The greenhouse has been pretty great. The Nevada sun on the other hand is ruthless. A few new plants got scorched and turned into powder. Yesterday I got a few soaking trays to put under the flats. A steady supply of moisture could help. But the truth is that growing milkweed it kinda difficult. There is no silver bullet.
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Mowing down a monarch and the apology
On May 24th, 2016 while driving from Sierraville to Loyalton in California I may have driven into a monarch butterfly with my car. I was driving at the limit of 55mph. The cross wind was about 15mph from the west. I didn't even see it coming. I also didn't see where it went. I pulled over to see if it was in the grill of the car or on the hood. I turned around to see if it was on the roadway or in the median. No sign of the first monarch butterfly for 2016. I apologize for hitting you with my car little butterfly! My hope is that it sailed over the car on a cushion of air and went on its way. A few days later I did have a confirmed monarch sighting in Reno. View my Journey North report for FIRST Adult Monarch Butterfly Sighting 2016
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Monarch Passion tee shirt at Teespring.com (Milkweed Planter)
Are you a MILKWEED PLANTER? Maybe you would like to order the shirt to show everyone that you have Monarch Passion? Order the MILKWEED PLANTER SHIRT from Teespring.com Avaliable for a limited time. $3 of each order is donated to Monarch Watch. If the link is buggy then use the search term "Monarch Passion" to be directed to this shirt design.
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Traveling to Omaha, NE to search for milkweed
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