One of the first plants to change from summer green to the colors of fall is the milkweed plant. It is the only plant that is consumed by the caterpillars which turn into Monarch butterflies. In many areas, the loss of milkweed habitat has contributed to the decreasing population of said butterflies.
I just read an interesting article from last September from the Burlington Free Press that farmers in Vermont and Quebec are actually cultivating the stuff. Apparently the seed pods produce a superior silken thread that can be used as insulation in clothing and for other purposes. This should help provide sustenance for Monarchs in our area.
No comments:
Post a Comment