Monarchs and Milkweed

Tags

asclepias tuberosa, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, milkeed, monarch butterfly, photography, postaday

While driving at the Edwin B Forsythe Wildlife Refuge this past Sunday, I saw a few Monarch butterflies from time to time. What made me stop and take the following pictures is the intense orange of the milkweed flowers (Asclepias Tuberosa) which perfectly matched the Monarch’s colors. There were many other weeds around the area, but the Monarchs did not mind.

Monarch butterfly and milkweed.

Monarch butterflies and milkweed.

Monarch butterfly and milkweed, and a tiny green insect.

Milkweed Flowers and Others

Tags

asclepias, cone flower, cosmos, echinacea, milkeed, photography, postaday

This year I planted milkweed (Asclepias) to try to help and attract butterflies, especially Monarchs, a species that is in decline in North America over the past several years. The milkweed flowers have started to bloom.

Asclepias or Milkweed

Let’s see whether the Monarchs will come! In the meantime, other summer flowers are very noticeable also, and butterflies, but not Monarchs, do fly around the yard.

Cosmos

Cosmos

Cone flower (Echinacea) and green bee.