I’ve been walking through milkweed patches, flipping over leaves, looking for chew marks, searching for eggs. So far, nada…no Monarch caterpillars….
But, the milkweed is looking good in our area and we’re slowly getting reports of sightings of Monarchs (although not really in Loudoun yet). A few Monarch caterpillars (5) have been found in the Reston/Herndon area so I know they are around us, we just have to get out there and find them.
In the meantime, as I walked along a glorious patch of milkweed that lines a trail at the Phillips Farm in Waterford, a little poem came together that I thought I’d share with you:
An Ode to Milkweed
by Nicole Hamilton
Milkweed growing oh so strong,
welcoming Monarchs with your fragrant song!Leaves so tasty, green and bright,
filling caterpillars with certain delight!Life will grow on leaf and stem,
then flutter off to begin again.Milkweed, milkweed growing strong,
thank you for bringing Monarchs along!
