Monarch Butterfly Emerging from Chrysalis
Order Your Milkweed Plants Today!
In March I shared an article about bringing back the Monarch Butterflies. Great interest in planting milkweed was expressed by many. The way to bring as many Monarchs as possible to our region is to help recreate the butterfly’s habitat in our own gardens. The number one way to do this is by planting native wildflowers, milkweed for the summer caterpillars, and asters and goldenrod for the fall migrants. Number two is to make a commitment not to use pesticides, which will indiscriminately kill all the creatures that your milkweed plants invite to your garden.
Monarch Eggs on Common Milkweed ~ see the tiny yellow pinhead-sized dots on the top of the upper leaves of the milkweed plants (click to view larger)
Milkweed is the only food plant of the Monarch caterpillar and the flower is a fantastic source of nectar for myriad species of bees and butterflies.
So many GMG readers wrote in requesting milkweed plants that Joey has very generously offered his place of business—Captain Joe and Sons—as our go-to-place for picking up plants!! It’s going to be a super fun morning–stop by with your coffee, visit, learn about milkweed and Monarchs, and pick up your order.
Please place your order today or tomorrow. I am not pre-collecting the money and am fronting the funds to purchase plants. I don’t want to have dozens of homeless plants, so I am asking everyone to please be on the honor system.
We are ordering two types of milkweed. The cost is 7.00 per plant, which will come in a 3.5 inch square pot. The plants are on the smallish side however, that is the ideal size for shipping and transplanting milkweed. I am writing instructions for planting and they will be provided at the time of purchase.
Monarch Caterpillars J-Shape on Common Milkweed Getting Ready to Turn into a Chrysalis
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the milkweed we see most typically growing in our dunes, meadows, roadsides, and fields. It grows quickly and spreads vigorously by underground runners. This is a great plant if you have an area of your garden that you want to devote entirely to milkweed. It prefers full sun, will tolerate some shade, and will grow in nearly any type of soil. The flowers are dusty mauve pink and have a wonderful honey-hay sweet scent.
Marsh Milkweed (Aclepias incarnata) is more commonly found in marshy areas, but it grows beautifully in gardens. It does not care for dry conditions. These plants are very well-behaved and are more clump forming, rather than spreading by underground roots. The flowers are typically a brighter pink than Common Milkweed.
Monarchs deposit their eggs readily on both types of milkweed and in my garden I grow Common Milweed and Marsh Milkweed side-by-side.
The cost of the plants includes shipping from Missouri. Hopefully everyone will be good and if they place an order, will honor their commitment. If there is any money beyond what was spent on plants and shipping we will donate it to the ongoing fundraising drive for the Rocky Neck Cultural Center purchase of the beautiful center on Wonson Street.
Plant pick-up is at Captain Joe and Sons, 95 East Main Street, Gloucester, on Saturday, May 18th from 9:00am to 12noon. If you cannot pick up your plants at that time, please ask a friend.
My order to the nursery is being placed on Tuesday night, so please get your orders in asap. Place Your Milkweed Order in the comment section of this post. Be sure to indicate which type of milkweed, Common or Marsh, and number of plants.
Our deepest thanks to everyone who is participating.
Female and Male Monarch Butterfly on Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Rain date pick up: Sunday, May 19th from 9am to 12noon.
Hi Kim. How many plants do you recommend? I’ll take the common milkweeds since they spread and grow fast. let me know.
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How large an area? You can plant milkweed plants fairly far apart because they grow so vigorously. If the area is around 5 feet by 5 feet, I would say 5-8 plants will get you started. In the fall you can allow the patch to go to seed, which is another method in which milkweed spreads.
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I’ll take 5 common milkweeds. Thanks a lot Kim!
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Thank you Paul!!
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I’ll take two of the marsh milkweed please! BUT – I’ll very likely be working that day. Would I be able to pick them up slightly earlier, maybe 830?
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Yes, I will be getting there around 8:30 to set up. Thanks Brooke!!
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Two of the marsh milkweed for me as well, thanks!
– Sarah Swart
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Great–thank you Sarah!
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2 marsh milkweed for me please. Thanks!
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Thank YOU!
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I would like 1 common milkweed plant please.
Thanks for organizing this!
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I would like one marsh milkweed. Thank you.
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I’ll take two common and one marsh.
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We’d love to grab two, please. Thank you!
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Love the photo of the Monarch emerging, Kim. Beautiful.
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Thank you Terry-looking forward to photographing the upcoming butterfly season!
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Kim, I’d like 3 marsh milkweed. Thanks so much!!
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Thank You MJ!!
I’ve got everybody’s orders recorded so far–keep the them coming!
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Kim, can I order 2 marsh milkweed please?
Thank you,
Laura Cramer
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Hi Kim,
We’d like 2 common and 4 marsh plants. Perfect for our land on the edge of the marsh in Essex!
Brad & Beth
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One marsh and one common please. Thanks for doing this.
Pat V
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Hi Kim – I’d like two common milkweed and two marsh milkweeds please.
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Okay great–have all the orders so far–this is Wonderful!!!
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3 “Marsh” for Bob Ryan. btw: Kathy very much enjoyed your presentation to the Manchester Garden Club.
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Thanks Bob–I loved meeting Kathy and she belongs to a great group–very energetic and engaged!
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Hi Kim:
Did I order? Can not remember if I did. My brain is leaking today
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No Donna, I do not have your order. If anyone ordered in the post last month, i am requesting that they restate their order here in the comment section to make it official, as i did not know the the price or the varieties available at the time of writing the initial post. Hope that is clear!
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Kim I would like one common and two marsh Thanks, David
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Great, thanks much David!
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One common and one marsh please
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Hi Kim, I will take 3 marsh milkweeds Thanks Kellie Rich
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Kim,
I have morning sun will the Marsh work? If so I will take one.
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Hi Vickie, yes it will–down for one–thanks P & V!
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I would like 1 of each milkweed. Many thanks Irma Cohen
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Hi Kim,
I would like 2 common milkweed plants,
Thanks,
Lisa
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Kim, two of each. RD wants 2 marsh milkweed and I want 2 of the common milkweed.
thanks, Paul M
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Thank you Paul!
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Oops, I forgot to specify on my comment above. We’ll take two common plants, please.
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Okay, got that Funkyfresh, thank you.
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Hi Kim, 3 marsh and 3 common please! I’m so glad you’re doing this. i tried to “seed” our field and they didnt take. See you May 18th .Lauren
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It’s Sarah Swart again, a friend would also like 2 marsh milkweed plants, so please put me down for FOUR (two already on order, now another two). Thanks!
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Okay, got it Sarah–thank you!
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Hi Kim
Earlier this morning I ordered 4 but did not specify the type.
We live on the beach, not marsh. Which one is better for sandy soil? Last year one plant appeared on it’s own but it didn’t survive the winter.
I’d like to change to 6 plants please! Whatever you recommend.
Cheers,
Gwen
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Hi Gwen–thank you– I have ordered 6 Common Milkweed for you –that is what we see everywhere around her growing in the dunes.
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Hi Kim,
I am hoping that you got my order for two of marsh and two of common type milkweed. Please check if you already have it. Thanks for making these available.
Sandy Shaw
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Yes I did Sandy, no worries. Thank you!
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Sandy Shaw – Are you the potter Sandy Shaw? If so, I would love to contact you. How can I do that? Susan Hershey pigeonhill@gmail.com
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Hi Kim – Would the marsh milkweed tolerate 1/2 day sun ? Thank you so much for doing this – I have been wanting to have milkweed plants in my butterfly garden for years!
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Hi Isabel, So nice to hear from you. Yes the Marsh Milkweed will tolerate 1/2 day of sun–that is what i have too.
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Five Marsh Milkweeds please!
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I would like one marsh milk weed
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HI Kim,
I’d like to order 3 common milkweed plants. Thank you
Holly
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Hi Kim –
Thanks so much for doing this. Could I please have one of each?
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Thanks, Kim! I’d like 3 marsh & 3 common, please.
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I would like 3 marsh. thanks, Kathleen Henneberry… planting in Peabody
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I would like 3 of each please …thanks, Debe and MaryJo Holland
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Please, I’ll take two of the marsh milkweeds. Just saw the IMAX about the Monarchs at the Smithsonian in Washington DC
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The order is placed. My deepest thanks to everyone.
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I would like to order 4 common milkweed and 4 marsh milkweed. I have a lot of space.
However I may not be able to be there on the 18th and may have to send a friend.
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Okay, got it Florence. Yes, please send a friend to pick up. I will not be able to hold plants for a later pick up.
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Hello again, Kim – Just want to make sure you got my order (of yesterday)
for 3 of each. Thanks again, Isabel
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Yes, I did include your order Isabel, thank you so much.
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I’m going to do this in Woodmont, CT and with the Urban Roots Bridgeport Community Gardens. (please like us on FB) We are all coastal communities that’s fun. Thanks for this inspirational simple idea. I have a yard full of them. I’ll have enough for the community gardens. I’ll need to order some for Woodmont. Thanks again!
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