May 22, 2020
I had a monarch on my lilac bushes in the evening. Dave, a retired botanist, had one during the day. Another friend had one at her house. Sooooo - they are back! Dave said they were about a week earlier than last year.
Milkweed is starting to grow. Monarch caterpillars need milkweed to eat.
I found some small plants of Showy Milkweed in the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area Butterfly Garden. I could not find any of the other milkweed we have planted - whorled, dwarf, swamp, common. Hopefully they are just getting a late start.
A botanist friend will be experimenting with more milkweed plots to see how best to grow them and which species the monarchs like best.
