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.

29 comments:

  1. 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.

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

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  3. We get excited,

    as excited as the bees, and butterflies.

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

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

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

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  7. 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!

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  8. 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!

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

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

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

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  12. 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!

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

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

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  15. 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.

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

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  17. 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.

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

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  19. 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*

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  20. 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?

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  21. LOVE the color!!!

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  22. Gorgeous orange milkweed! Beautiful!

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  23. Beautiful color!

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