Can a Monarch Change the Law?

There is milk weed in the fields and milkweed down by the ditch that was a creek and milkweed in the kitchens garden even milkweed growing with the asparagus. But until 2017 many regions of Illinois had outlawed this plant. The poor monarch butterflies just had to miss out and consequently have run into deep trouble. The monarch butterfly is now on the candidate endangered species list.

While Milkweed is a weed to many farmers and gardeners; Milkweed is a protected plant on this property. Even before they lifted the ban because the birds, bees and butterflies are a part of the environment I am sworn to protect. And monarch butterflies need this plant. (I have already seen some early monarch butterflies on the farmy).

The monarch butterfly lays her eggs on the milkweed leaves and the caterpillar feeds on milkweed leaves so they are critical to the migration of the monarch butterfly. (You know they fly in a relay right? It is not just one butterfly flying all that way). It is imperative that the monarch can find this plant and plenty of it. Yet it was illegal to grow milkweed in parts of Illinois until 2017. What the hell? The depreciation of the monarchs food led to that law being changed.

🦋 – YES – monarchs can change laws!

There are three popular varieties of milkweed: Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and butterfly weed (A. tuberosa). There is another milkweed that is not a native and holds its flowers so long that the monarch hangs around too late to migrate, this is called a tropical milkweed. So make sure you don’t plant that one. Plant the natives.

We have the common milkweed (of course) and swamp milkweed (because this used to be a swamp).

You can get free milkweed seed for your butterfly and bee lawn at Live Monarch dot com.This site sells milkweed at low cost or no cost. The milkweed plant likes a lot of sun. And is highly scented – you will love it.

Weeds are only plants in the wrong place.

CMBWG

The milkweed is still illegal to grow in some regions – (conventional farmers hate untidy weeds) but thankfully this is changing and in Illinois State Law trumps the regional bans. Here is an interesting article.

And speaking of weeds there is Boo hiding in the weeds.

Pawpaw trees are not weeds either

The pawpaw trees are popping up all over the place. Much to my delight. There are even more than I last reported. And the mature trees are flowering like crazy. It might be a good pawpaw year!

NO Mow May

Is almost over. More weeds!

The No Mow May lawns are now designated NO MOW forever. This very shady piece of lawn is now officially wilding. I have mown a pathway beside it so we can navigate through without bothering the bees. And there are still a bunch of bees in there. I am carefully going in and removing any really nasty weeds. Because you know weeds are only plants in the wrong place. Like Burdock. Burdock is a bi-annual and throws out those nasty velcro seeds in its second year. The cows will eat it but it is NOT a protected weed here. Very invasive. And those burrs are the bane of my life. Off with its head. Actually it also had a very deep tap root which is great for drainage but I still hate them.

More Nanny Boo hiding. Waiting for the mower to go past so he can bite the tires. You know I can see you right? BooBoo? I CAN see you!!!

Cows Break Out the Calves

The big cows leaned on a gate to get to the little cows and broke the gate. So now they are all together. I did not want this to happen before this weeks beast went to the locker but ah well, there you are.

To avoid bloat in the little calves, who have not been in the long grass before, I let them graze for an hour yesterday afternoon then locked them all back up on the concrete. This morning I gave them all a big feed of grass hay and after they have filled their first belly with dry hay – I will let them out at noon for a few more hours grazing. I will do this for a few days. The last thing I need is a baby with bloat!

And yes! Tima is still with them, she is part of the herd too. She probably talked them into leaning on the gate. Leading from behind as usual! Can you just see her – steaming up shouting orders to the big cows?

I hope you all have a lovely day.

Celi

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