Milkweeds are ready

Everybody’s favourite, orange Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), is now ready to go into gardens. I have this year’s seedlings in 2 1/2″ pots and a very few year-old plants in 4″ tall pots. I also have Whorled Milkweed (A. verticilliata), with the thin leaves Monarch favour late in the season, and Dwarf Milkweed (A. ovalifolia). (I’ll get the Availability List, with prices, up soon.)

This year I also have Poke Milkweed (A. exaltata) seedlings in 2 1/2″ pots. Poke Milkweed is a tall milkweed for light shade and woodland edges. Its flowers are not as colourful as some of the other milkweeds, but they are still very interesting. I have not been successful at keeping Poke Milkweed over winter in pots, so if you are interested in Poke Milkweed, best to get them now. Gardeners in the Ottawa area have succeeded with this species, sometimes saying they have put the plant in a protected location near the house foundations. Poke Milkweed does occur in eastern Ontario, but not in Ottawa nor points north.

And, of course, I have Swamp Milkweed (A. incarnata). My seed was locally collected, right across the street, along the banks of the Bonnechere River. Swamp Milkweed does not need a swamp, just a spot that is not dry, somewhere you can bring the hose to during a dry spell. It is always among the top picks for Monarchs to lay eggs on. I have Swamp Milkweed on a two-for special this month: 2 for $7 – a good deal.

My last scheduled trip into Ottawa had to be cancelled because my dog is very sick and I couldn’t leave him. I am hoping to be able to come into Ottawa with pre-paid orders on Thursday, August 14th. If you can get up to Eganville and wish to drop in on the nursery, please let me know by email – naturalgarden@xplornet.ca. I have some interesting species available: Canada Milkvetch, Royal Catchfly, Narrow-leaved Vervain, Wild Lupin, and the peculiarly named Perplexed (or, sometimes and more accurately, Perplexing) Tick-trefoil, among others. They deserve a post of their own….