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These milkweed seed pods have been sitting around since 2022, and somehow the fluff got even poofier. What started as a “quick cleanup” turned into a full-blown botanical snowstorm. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to wrestle a thousand dandelions at once—this is it.

I’m on a mission to finally get these seeds spread this year before they fossilize. Will a shop vac save the day or just make things worse? Watch the chaos unfold as I test vacuum power versus milkweed fluff. Spoiler: it’s a mess either way.

If you’ve got old pods and an optimistic spirit, join me in the great milkweed fluff showdown. Grab your shop vac, a dust mask, and maybe a sense of humor.

#milkweed #pollinators #gardeningfails #growmilkweedplants #seedcollection

Ahhh Asclepias texana. Tis the season of growing milkweed.

Texas milkweed is oddly easy to grow. It can be grown in a pot. It can be grown in the shade. It can be grown in wet soil. It can be grown in potting soil. Despite being native to about thirteen counties in Texas. It does very well in a flower bed at your home. That’s where these seeds came from. A kind soul near Houston Texas collected these seeds.

You may purchase them in the Grow Milkweed Plants store https://www.growmilkweedplants.com/product-page/asclepias-texana-texas-milkweed-seed

A friend of Grow Milkweed Plants has provided seeds of Clasping milkweed. Native to Georgia and many other states. These seeds are collected in Georgia. View the seeds in the stor at the following link -> https://www.mobileapp.app/to/1OcGrTJ?ref=2_cl

A member of the Grow Milkweed Plants facebook group (Brian) adopted this section of my community by donating 7,500 Showy milkweed seeds (Asclepias speciosa). To show my support I matched his seeds with 7,500 seeds I had collected. Along the Kay’s Creek path is Utah’s smallest Monarch Waystation. The area can benefit from additional Showy milkweed plants. The plants will support pollinators and help to stabilize the creek’s banks from inevitable erosion in the years ahead.

By dropping the seeds in February. There are a few months of cool wet weather. The seeds will swell with moisture as the spring temps warm up. When the soil temps reach 70° the seeds can begin germination.

Near the Beus Canyon Trail parking lot a corner of the trail has been stabilized by a local trail crew. On the outside of the corner myself and Brogan planted 72 plants in a cool fall morning.

The forecast was calling for light snow, perfect to keep the roots in the Showy milkweed comfortable in their new dirt trench. Brogan and I arrived at the trailhead at 9am and wrapped up around 10:30am. Brogan did an amazing job digging the trench that I put the Showy milkweed roots in. Brogan also does a great job engaging and educating the hikers who frequently pass by as we worked.

Thankfully the snow was light and eased up as we worked. A special thanks is due to Caleb S. for providing 72 Asclepias speciosa plants that were seasonally dormant and had massive, healthy roots. Without Caleb’s dedication to growing Showy milkweed from locally…

2024 Showy Milkweed harvest season is in full-swing. Middle two weeks of September are typically the time to harvest Asclepias speciosa in most of the western states. Utah and Idaho are where I’ve been to collect pods.

Collecting pods is only the start of the process. Once the pods are collected the next step is to remove the seeds.

Welcome to the Grow Milkweed Plants group! You can connect with other milkweed growing members, get updates about milkweed and share milkweed videos.