Saturday, July 19, 2014

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Ever since I was a kid on a trip with my grandparents, I've felt excited when I see a patch of this orange milkweed. Probably not as excited as a monarch butterfly who needs milkweeed (any kind) to lay her eggs on, as it's the only plant her caterpillars can eat. But...

 Bee on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

maybe as excited as this bee who loves the plant's nectar.

Growing in the wild

The first Butterfly Weed I ever saw was growing in the wild. Now I love it so much that I do have it growing a my side yard garden.

I am linking to Today's Flowers HERE.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

30 comments:

Revrunner said...

I've noticed it growing along the edges of a bike path I use frequently. Strange to call a plant that is so colorful a week.

William Kendall said...

I wouldn't think of it as a weed. It's quite lovely.

rainfield61 said...

We get excited,

as excited as the bees, and butterflies.

RedPat said...

I've planted some in my roof garden this year and it is just starting to flower!

TexWisGirl said...

gorgeous!

Kathy said...

It must be one of those weeds that's dressed up in her Sunday best!

Small City Scenes said...

I love it too. Gorgeous shots. MB

Carole M. said...

...it is beautiful and great that you might be able to coax the butterflies to your own garden with it growing there too

Jack said...

Isn't it remarkable that this butterfly subsists on only one plant? I had a bush like this in my previous Florida home, as part of a butterfly garden. Unfortunately, the landscaping at my current Florida home isn't suitable for a butterfly garden. Drat!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I always wondered what milkweed looked like.

Randy said...

Love that bee close up.

Anonymous said...

We have Butterfly Weed in our west field along with Queen Anne's Lace and see it all along the side of rural roads in Missouri! Beautiful images EG! Thanks for telling me about your camera.. :) I love that it attracts butterflies!

Ela said...

Just gorgeous flower and colours !
Have a nice Sunday :)

Jenny said...

That is beautiful milkweed. In Texas it looks white or I'm remembering the white, gooy gel that oozes from it. xo Jenny

MadSnapper said...

that bee sure looks happy with his brilliant orange landing strip... beautiful flowers

Kay said...

I'm going to look around for this plant...if it's called a weed it might be well suited to grow in my garden!

Cloudia said...

well done!

Lisa Gordon said...

I have never seen orange milkweed! Ours is pinkish.
This is really beautiful!

Judi Gray said...

beautiful vibrant plant, they must look spectacular with the Monarch Butterfly on them.

Anvilcloud said...

I am not aware of ever seeing an orange one. Interestingly, we have a milkweed volunteer in out town garden. I have let it be and will be sure to report if it turns out to be orange.

Stephanie said...

Beautiful!

Grandma C said...

Your bee and butterfly shots are great!

Laura said...

Absolutely gorgeous!!! Thanks for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)

Hannah said...

Your blooms really pull at me, I finally got a plant last year but thought it had died in the winter because it took so long to grow in the spring, but now it is getting slowly taller, I don't know if there is much hope it will bloom this year. The flowers are incredible, both the color and the waxy symmetry. I least I get to look at my indoor Hoya vine blooms, they are related, and smell the wonderful fragrance.

Annemor said...

Lovely.
I do like the color of the flowers.
Have a nice day.
Mormor

orchid0324 said...

Wow; I've never seen this 'Butterfly Weed'; how attractive and you have warm memories with them♡♡♡ And GORGEOUS Macro shots of the flower with bee, EG♪

Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

Rose said...

Oh, how I love the color here! That orange would make a wonderful fabric! Wonder what the bumblebee was thinking as you took his photo?

Anonymous said...

LOVE the color!!!

A Colorful World said...

Gorgeous orange milkweed! Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful color!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.