Help bring back the Monarchs by buying milkweed at this sale! It’s a great opportunity to buy the only plant on which Monarchs will lay their eggs. The event is co-sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and our partner, Northwest Federal Credit Union. Remember: LWC members are eligible to join the credit union. Questions: Contact info@loudounwildlife.org

We will have 1,000+ Common Milkweed plants for sale by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and a variety of other native nectar plants offered by Watermark Woods Native Nursery so you can create your Monarch waystation and welcome back the Monarch butterflies this summer! Your purchase of milkweed plants helps us make donations of plants to our local schools, […]

Vol. 21 Issue 3, Summer 2016 By the Audubon at Home Ambassadors Now, for the first time in its history, gardening has taken on a role that transcends the needs of the gardener. Like it or not, gardeners have become important players in the management of our nation’s wildlife. It is now within the power of […]

Vol. 20 Issue 2, Summer 2015 By Emily Bzdyk Milkweed is an important host plant for many insects. Most of us know about Monarchs and their dependence on milkweed. Two other examples are the milkweed beetle and milkweed bug. The common names of these two insects can cause some confusion, but true “bugs” and beetles […]

Vol. 20, Issue 2, Summer 2015 By Donna Quinn Common Milkweed’s story is also a story about us, our values and how we live. Before the days of modern conveniences like grocery stores, it was considered a useful plant. It was eaten, although it is toxic and requires special preparation to be safe for human […]

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 […]

There have been reports of 3 Monarch butterflies in Loudoun so far – two in Purcellville and one in Round Hill. So — keep an eye on your milkweed patch! The aroma of the milkweed wafts up into the air and Monarchs flying by smell it. Check your milkweed for eggs and caterpillars. Monarchs are moving […]

Vol. 18 Issue 1, Spring 2013 by Sally Snidow One of the critical factors in the Monarch Butterfly’s struggle to survive is an abundance of plentiful, pesticide-free milkweed (Asclepias spp.) on which to lay eggs. But Monarchs are not alone in their use of this beautiful plant family. If you observe your milkweed plants carefully, […]

Vol. 18 Issue 1, Spring 2013 by Kerry Bzdyk Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) – a fascinating plant with an unfortunate name. Often it is found growing in neglected sunny spots at the edge of farm fields. Rarely is this species cultivated in home gardens, but perhaps it should be! Monarch butterflies rely on it as a […]

Vol. 10 Issue 2, Summer 2005 By Nicole Hamilton Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberose) is a low-growing member of the milkweed family.  It has colorful orange flowers that bloom from late spring through early fall.  Unlike other milkweeds, it has a watery sap rather than a milky sap.  Although it grows well in the garden, it may […]