rec.gardens.ecosystems homepage -> archive: MOD$990210.1027@rec.gardens.ecosystems



Subject: Re: how to attract monarchs
From: <zvan@my-dejanews.com>
Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 99 00:44:51
Message-ID: <MOD$990210.1027@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$990202.28848@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$990210.23245@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



In article <MOD$990210.23245@rec.gardens.ecosystems>,
wtmorgan@pilot.msu.edu (Bill Morgan) wrote:
>
> In article <MOD$990202.28848@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, zvan@my-dejanews.com
> wrote:
>
> > by now i have quite a thicket of common milkweeds, about 100 yds from any
> > home, in an old untreated orchard near woods. still no monarchs. i am not
> > terribly worried, the weeds have been up only two years (i planted cutting
> > and seeds) yet i wonder if i could do something to facilitate their coming.
>
> I assume you live in a Monarch area. You have seen them "around town", right?

I live in SE Michigan. To be perfectly honest, the only place where I saw
monarchs in abundance was on Beaver Island up north. Beaver Island is covered
with milkweeds. I have seen a few in the Pinkney area, which is about half way
between here and Lansing.

>
> Here's a couple of quick questions:
>
> How large is your milkweed patch? The bigger it is, the more likely it is
> to be found.
a few square yards, in full sun.

>
> Do your plants flower? The more flowers there are, the more attractive the
> planting.
some of them do. some of them are young.

>
> How open is this orchard area, and are there other open areas nearby?
> Milkweed does appreciate sunlight, and monarchs are more a meadow than a
> deep woods species. If the orchard trees are unkempt (i.e., have not been
> pruned for years), even just some intensive pruning will open things up a
> bit--not to mention the fact that it makes for a better fruit crop.
>

Yes, it is an old orchard, and I started the weeds where two trees in a row
fell. It is quite open. the rest I am pruning on weekends, one tree at a time.
what I am going to do is, I will provide a few butterfly bushes, and wait some
more.

-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own