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Grow Milkweed Plants Podcast 
episode 16
1M Monarchs vs. a Mine, MexiRocks, Garden Vandalism & Jewel Milkweed

A Mine vs. a Million Monarchs
By DAN FAGIN APRIL 29, 2016

Seems like a "no-brainer". A million monarchs should be able to stop any impending destruction. That's not the case. Mining operations near the Oyamel Fir forest is going forward. The mining will reduce the ground water under the trees that the monarch butterfly's use to overwinter on in Mexico.

Save Our Monarchs MexiRocks program

Poverty is a reality for those living in the mountain towns beneath the monarch butterflies. With little opportunity to generate a year-round income the MexiRocks present hope. Hope is a powerful thing that can cause incredible change. I support MexiRocks by making a purchase. What can you do today to support the citizens who support the monarch butterflies? 

Plants crushed, but not Conway School’s spirit
Community helps revive garden after vandalism

Do you have a public milkweed patch that you admire all summer long? Have you then seen that milkweed destroyed. It is gut wrenching and frustrating. Now imagine that the milkweed was destroyed as an act of intentional vandalism; it happened to a school in California. The recovery is the real story. The community reached out to help restore the pollinator garden. Perhaps it can be build bigger and better than before.

The Pollination of Asclepias Cryptoceras
Author(s): Edwin Payson
Source: Botanical Gazette, Vol. 61, No. 1 (Jan., 1916), pp. 72-74 Published by: The University of Chicago Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2468759
Accessed: 13-05-2016 02:46 UTC 

Edwin Payson remarks that the large irregular bloom is no-doubt due to a relationship with a particular insect. Surely he was referring to the Bumble Bee, Bombus morrisoni Cresson, 1878 that he references in his journal. To many of us, myself included, it is not readily obvious. Our knowledge of the relationship between plants and animals, flower and insects must be renewed frequently.

First hand view of Asclepias cryptoceras, Jewel milkweed

There is a first for everything. Below are photos and video of my first, and second experience meeting jewel milkweed.
Asclepias cryptoceras
asclepias cryptoceras
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