Garden Design Quick Start Guide

  UPDATE: Our milkweed nursery in Chula Vista, California is thriving… Our Asclepias curassavica seedlings continue to grow. 91 of 96 cells planted late July have germinated. We did have an outbreak of aphids noticed today. Treated with organic, and safe, Neem oil. They quickly began to die (see first image). We have learned that this variety may not be the best or our area, or anywhere in the U.S. It can harbor a spore, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) is a debilitating protozoan parasite that kills the caterpillars. Therefore, we do NOT intend to distribute these plants. We are using them to gain experience growing. At the suggestion of my good friend and Chicago radio gardening talk show host, Mike Nowak, we are switching to native variety: narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). If your garden is in northern Illinois A. currasavica is not hardy. You are too cold. Our latest selection A. fascicularis may not be hardy either. Learn which the good varieties for your area. He...

Look at 'em now! Our butterfly milkweed nursery is coming along. We planted the seeds gathered this summer from our parent plant (see photo collage) on July 22. As of Aug. 4 we have 90 of 96 cells in the grower trays with sprouts. Our variety is Asclepias curassavica. It grows in warmer climates like San Diego. This milkweed is a monarch magnet. We have many flitting around our home year round. There are varieties that will grow in cold winter areas. If you live where it freezes try Asclepias tuberosa. It attracts monarch butterflies, too. Our little sprouts are still in the cotyledon stage. We expect true leaves soon. After the plants have grown and developed roots in these grower packs we will transplant them to 3.5 inch pots. Please stay tuned.