I have been planting milkweed (Asclepias Tuberosa) in our backyard for the past three years. It’s an easy plant, requiring virtually no care (note the weed in its name). A sunny afternoon found a bee and a Monarch butterfly on the milkweed.
Bee on milkweed.
Bee on milkweed.
Monarch laying eggs on milkweed.
Monarch, done laying eggs.
neihtn 
Beautiful! The bee looks so…fuzzy 🙂
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They are fuzzy, and even more when you come close to them. Thanks Takami!
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I’ve been trying to do some research on what type of milkweed is native in my area (SW Oregon) and sources for the seeds or plants. My understanding is that the Monarchs are a bit choosy. I’m hoping to have the sort of success you’ve had. Wonderful images! 🐝
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Let me know what you find out. I’m just curious. 🙂
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My research effort has slowed down a bit. I’ll be having cataract surgery near the end of the month. If the eyes cooperate perhaps I’ll track down what I’m looking for next month. I will let you know if or when I figure it out! 😀 Life gets a bit too busy at times.
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Thanks. Take care with your surgery, it will go well.
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Oh such lovely images .. how nice to see the bee enjoying that nectar and that gorgeous monarch ensuring those caterpillars have plenty of tucker 🙂
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That’s nice to hear from a farmer like you!
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Beautiful set of Milkweeds, Bees and Butterflies! I remember as a kid, Milkweeds was fun for me to play with, I would break the leafs to see the milky fluids run and later in the year I use to love to open the the dryer pods and watch the seed float away in the wind. The fields where full of them around KY as I remember. Now-a-days I enjoy the beauty of the bloom and the little critter that visit. Well ….. okay if came across one today with a nice dyed up pod, I am sure I would have let some of them fly free in the wind 🙂
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Your comments remind me that in the fall I could get more milkweed seeds from the dried pods. Thanks John!
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Beautiful! Nowadays when the bees are no longer plentiful, it is a treat to see them at work.
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Thank you Helen! Maybe the bees will make a comeback also.
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So wonderful to have bee friendly flowers. I also love flowers that don’t need any care! Beautiful images as always.
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Thanks Sue! These plants are truly carefree, only requiring some water when the summer is too dry.
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Splendid macros displaying awesome details and beauty,Hien.The bee on the wonderful Milkweed flowers is totally stunning.Such a showy and complex flower rich in colour.Monarch is gorgeous too,loved her patterned wings and how you managed to capture her laying eggs.Indeed,great timing.
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Thank you Doda! I am glad you like these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
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Be proud of your work,Hien.
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Beautiful captures, Hien! The bee images have awesome background colors!!
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The milkweed flowers helped! Thanks Donna!
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Fabulous – I love the butterfly’s spotty body.
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Thank you Emma! Monarch butterflies are among the best for photography.
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Naming it a “weed” really is an insult to such a beautiful plant!
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Ha, ha! Someone’s weed is another person’s beautiful flowers!
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Amazing photos, Hien. I didn’t know that milkweed’s flower is so beautiful. Thanks.
Have a great evening.
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Thanks Helen!
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Beautiful captures and I hope you have lots of monarch caterpillars to hatch!
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The eggs hatched the first year. Let’s hope they will again this year. Thanks Eliza!
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I love the detail in the bee’s wings in the first image. Very beautiful. Well done.
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Monarchs are among the prettiest butterflies! Thanks, M.B.
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Agreed! You might enjoy some of the monarch shots on my page, if you feel like taking a look: https://mb-henry.com/photography/butterflies/
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Wonderful shots, magnificent plant 😀
Ciao
Sid
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Thank you Sid!
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I loved these images Hien! I’m not sure that it makes a difference, but the plants in these photos are called swamp milkweed here in Michigan, but they are so closely related to what we call milkweed here that monarch butterflies lay their eggs on them, which you have shown us very well. I see that you covered that by using the full botanical name for the plants rather than the common name for them. The flowers smell as wonderful as regular milkweed flowers as well.
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Thank you Jerry. Let’s hope this milkweed helps the Monarchs. It temporarily put away the bird feeder so that the birds would not eat the Monarch caterpillars, should the eggs hatch.
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