Butterflies, Blooms, Bees & Birds
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The four B's of milkweed. Growing milkweed plants has many benefits. You will have satisfaction in helping build a sanctuary for butterflies and other pollinators. You will also get seasonal visual beauty from the blossoms.
Yes, milkweed does blossom and it is glorious. If you are a fan of food then you will be doing yourself a favor by growing Milkweed. Pollinating insects help strengthen the food supply. Milkweed helps pollinators do what they do best; pollinate. |
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Butterflies
Let's agree that the butterfly has no bad qualities. Everyone loves butterflies. If there is one thing butterflies love it is milkweed. Milkweed provides food and shelter to monarch butterflies during all stages of their life cycle. In addition to monarchs there are other types of butterflies that also use milkweed to lay their eggs. The Queen butterfly shares milkweed with monarchs. |
overwintering monarch butterflies
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Blooms
In most climates the milkweed plants bloom once a year. There are some warmer regions that have year-round blooms. But in the case of most North American states milkweed will become dormant in the winter. When the Monarch migrates North from Mexico they are expecting to find blooming milkweed. The milkweed bloom creates a high quality nectar source for the active butterflies. All pollinating insects enjoy the blooms of the milkweed. |
jewel milkweed in bloom
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Bees
Solitary bees & hive bees are polinators. Bees are my favorite pollinator. Honey is a great side effect of the honey bees pollinating. One third of our food is made possible by pollination. Bees are the most active pollinators. If bees are provided with a high quality pollen source such as milkweed then they can be strong and healthy. Milkweed is a great source of pollen for both hive bees and solitary bees. |
bees on blooming milkweed
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Birds
In the Disney movie The Lion King we all remember the song Circle of Life. There is a line by Elton John saying "some say eat or be eaten". Milkweed is a great food source. The leaf is eaten by the caterpillar and the nectar is eaten by the butterflies. In reality, the butterfly is not very far up the food chain. It is estimated that as little as 5% of female monarchs live to lay eggs. One predator is birds. Birds eat the insects that are given life by the milkweed and other plants. |
bird gathering milkweed silk for nesting
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