Re: butterfly bush

Auralie,
We have the common milkweed in our Butterfly garden at the Display Gardens,
of course.  It does self sow into neighboring gardens, like the Pastel
Pathway, but who cares; the volunteers can be removed  I think it is pretty,
too, and an interesting plant.  I need to get me some.
Kitty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Aplfgcnys@aol.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 4:40 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] butterfly bush


> The milkweed that is specific for monarch is "common" milkweed,
> Asclepias syriaca, which has very pale lavendar or pinkish flowers.
> I think they may eat some others, as I have seen them on my cultivated
> Asclepias, too.  The "swamp" milkweed is, according to the Audubon
> Society Field Guide,  Asclepias incarnata, a deep pink flower.  I am
> not familiar with it, but doubt it is the one specific for monarchs, for
the
> guide says it contains less of the milky sap that gives monarchs their
> protective nasty taste to predators. I have a bed of the "common"
> ones in the narrow strip between the drive and the boulder.  People
> say "you have to get rid of those weeds," but I encourage them.  Not
> only for the monarchs, but because I like them.  I think the flowers are
> lovely, I love their fragrance, and if I am lucky enough to get pods, I
> love them, too, for dried flower arrangements and various crafts.
> When the plants begin to get ratty late in the summer I just cut them
> down unless they have bods - most don't.
> But then I guess you all know by now that my garden is not your
> conventional flower-bed.
> Auralie
>
> In a message dated 06/13/2005 5:41:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> tchessie@comcast.net writes:
> Do monachs use any of the other asclepias?   Exactly which one it "swamp
> milkweed"?
>
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