A few years ago a couple of milkweed plants showed up in my side garden. I recognize these as 'weeds' and was about to yank them when I remembered reading that these plants are favoured by Monarch butterflies and, since those butterflies seemed to be suffering from declining numbers, I thought it might be ecologically beneficial if I allowed my garden to host a few of these plants. Now, every year, I let just a few milkweed plants have a spot in the garden and I've been rewarded by always seeing at least a few of the lovely orange butterflies every year. This year they've been especially co-operative by posing at least briefly on other plants that nicely compliment their colour scheme.
It makes me smile to see these precious butterflies in or around my yard. I cringe when I see milkweed about to be mowed in the medians or alongside the highway, fearing that tiny caterpillars or a crysallis is about to be destroyed... So kind of you to leave a little garden space for milkweed, for the monarchs' sake.
