Got Milkweed? That’s what these fat Monarch caterpillars want to know. These two little guys were chowing down on Common Milkweed along the trail at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor. I’m going to attempt to sow some Milkweed in our perennial garden next year. There are approximately 140 species of Milkweed. There are two kinds of Milkweed common to southern Michigan. They are Common Milkweed and Swamp Milkweed. The naturalist at the Dahlem Center in Jackson told me that if you collect a Monarch Caterpillar off a Common Milkweed you should feed it Common Milkweed. And, if you collect them off of Swamp Milkweed you should feed them Swamp Milkweed. I always check the undersides of Milkweed to look for eggs. Sometimes I get lucky and find the caterpillars. You might think this is a childish activity. Well, I agree. It is. Children seem to be born with an inquisitive nature. But somewhere along the way that childlike fascination gets lost. Where does it go? Does it get buried beneath responsibility? Or does it get filed away with imagination? Well, I try to keep mine close by. It’s important know where butterflies come from. What would our world be without them? Monarchs may not be here forever. Their wintering grounds in Mexico are slowly being deforested. You feed the birds. You feed the squirrels. Why not feed the caterpillars? They need your help. Got Milkweed?
Here is a nice link for the condition of Monarch wintering sites in Southern California. Click here.
The Heron 
Beautiful photo did you take it? Can milkweed grow in desert climates, say like Southern California?
Thanks Matt. It’s not a great photo. I use my point and shoot on hikes and sometimes closeups dont turn out so well. I made a correction to my post. There are about 140 species of Milkweed. See the links above for species of Milkweed and the condition of Monarch over wintering sites in Southern California.