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Plant milkweed, and the Monarchs will come
paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant Started conversation Jul 19, 2020
I looked out my window this morning and saw a Monarch butterfly sipping nectar from the Swamp Milkweed next to my porch. This seems momentous to me, though not everyone would get excited.
If, in a few weeks, I see little holes being chewed in the leaves, then I will know that eggs were laid and that caterpillars are feasting on the milkweed plant.
I have four swamp milkweeds in all, and three are in bloom. Even if the monarchs don't raise families here, I have seen the bumblebees pollinating the blossoms, so I hope I can look forward to milkweed pods.
Plant milkweed, and the Monarchs will come
Rev Nick - dead man walking (mostly) Posted Jul 23, 2020
I have always enjoyed wild milk weed. A friend from the UK came here at the end of their season, and thought they were a throw-back to body snatchers and pod-people. 
Plant milkweed, and the Monarchs will come
Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ Posted Jul 23, 2020
Are you quite sure they are not?
Plant milkweed, and the Monarchs will come
paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant Posted Jul 23, 2020
Even if there are pod people, the pods are too small to fit very big people inside. I suggest relaxing.
Plant milkweed, and the Monarchs will come
Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ Posted Jul 23, 2020
Even small seeds can grow and become big - and even huge - erm - things 
But I will follow your advice, paulh, and relax and 
Plant milkweed, and the Monarchs will come
paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant Posted Jul 23, 2020
Apparently, common milkweed does grow in a lot of EU member countries, including Denmark. It can also be "invasive," which means growing widely to the detriment of "native" species.
The catch seems to be that the point of growing milkweed is to furnish food and nectar for Monarch butterflies. If a country doesn't have Monarch butterflies, why bother to grow milkweed there, unless, like Hungary, you intend to let your honeybees make honey from the nectar?
Spain is a special case. it has some established populations of Monarch butterflies, and it also has common milkweed growing there.
You can also prepare milkweed as a vegetable for your dining needs.
http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/you-can-eat-this-but-should-you-1/#:~:text=Common%20milkweed%20can%20be%20made,an%20essential%20plant%20for%20monarchs.&text=There%20are%20three%20times%20in,when%20you%20can%20eat%20it.&text=The%20milkweed%20contains%20a%20milky,latex%2C%20cardenolides%20and%20other%20constituents.
If this is food for thought, bon appetit!
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Plant milkweed, and the Monarchs will come
- 1: paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant (Jul 19, 2020)
- 2: Rev Nick - dead man walking (mostly) (Jul 23, 2020)
- 3: Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ (Jul 23, 2020)
- 4: paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant (Jul 23, 2020)
- 5: Pierre de la Mer ~ sometimes slightly worried but never panicking ~ (Jul 23, 2020)
- 6: paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant (Jul 23, 2020)
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