Spring is on the calendar when we flip it next! That means it’s time to start planning your butterfly garden. Now, to me that means having the host plants that you need to provide a place for your butterflies to lay their eggs. That could happen whenever the weather is consistently above 45 degrees.

Here is the host plant you will want for the monarch butterfly: milkweed. Yes, milkweed is it! There are more than 30 species which monarchs utilize, but the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the most popular among monarchs. It is a perennial and spreads quickly once established. Butterfly milkweed is another one which you see in ditches with the beautiful orangish red blooms. I have many of those as well.

To apply for free milkweeds, please visit monarchwatch.org/free-milkweeds and to obtain milkweeds for gardens, please visit milkweedmarket.org