Milkweed

We’ve been walking in the community garden lately. Only slightly odd, considering that the frost has done in just about everything except the kale and some of the cabbage family. We’ve been doing some clean-up, clearing some limbs that have been trimmed off the larger trees and generally aiming to tuck the garden in until the spring.

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on in the garden. There are still some seeds that are working on finding a safe location to put down roots (sorry…). And none more than the milkweed. These pods have been growing and maturing all summer and now the wonderful fluffy carriers of the seeds are taking off. The recent winds have helped, I’m sure.

I learned this year that monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants. That’s why milkweed, usually not highly prized among gardeners, is growing the community garden. And, indeed, we did see lots of monarch over the summer.

I love the grace of these seeds as they break free of the pod and launch themselves into the air. I’m glad my camera and I were there just then.