Saturday, March 8, 2014

Milkweed

Milkweed pod

The seeds and dried pods of this plant are needed by monarch butterflies. They lay their eggs on this plant - the sole food of monarch caterpillars.  The monarch population has declined from between 80 and 90% since 1996,  one reason being  the herbicide that kills milkweed. In this photo, the seeds are ready to be released to fly away on silky parachutes.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

24 comments:

William Kendall said...

So that's what milkweed look like!

Splendid capture, EG!

Carole M. said...

...a lovely observation

Ruth Hiebert said...

I happen to think that the Milkweed is a beautiful plant,from flower to fly away seeds,but farmers don't agree with that.Lovely picture.

DeniseinVA said...

Great macro! A lovely photo!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

neat-o!! ( :

TexWisGirl said...

they're pretty, too.

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

That is a great close-up. 80-90%, I had not idea it was that high. My, we're ruining everything!

RedPat said...

The perfume from the flowers is intoxicating! I love it.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

So lovely and such vitally important information.

cedarmerefarm said...

Isn't it sad about the monarch population? I have decided to set aside some land at our farm and grow milkweed. My dream is to become a way station for monarch butterflies. Wish me luck.

Stephanie said...

Very pretty capture!

Jack said...

I have read the same thing. Isn't it remarkable that a species will have one, and only one, food source?

Visit me later this week to see a monarch and other butterflies.

Carletta said...

Wonderful shot of the silky center!

Stuart said...

What beautiful colors. I'm surprised they're not all the same.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Gorgeous macro of the milkweed pod!

Laura said...

May the wind carry these seeds to a perfect sunny place where butterflies will alight and enjoy the nectar their fragrant flowers bring forth. Thanks for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)

Small City Scenes said...

Can't we try some natural week killer??? Love the shot and the info. Love the butterfly too. MB

Unknown said...

The seeds are gorgeous!

LONDONLULU said...

What a gorgeous, gorgeous macro! I like those silken, incredible textures...

PerthDailyPhoto said...

It's a wonderful macro EG but so sad that we may be responsible for the demise of this beautiful creature. We really are our own worst enemy aren't we!

Lisa Gordon said...

This is a superb image!

Anonymous said...

That's a great capture. I love when the milkweed are growing around here.

kissed by an angel said...

Great macro picture and very interesting informations about the Milkweed pod and the butterflies!!!

kayerj said...

that is an awesome shot!

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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.