Hellow Gardeners:

I live in Allen in a small, suburban, unimaginative tract home. So, I dug up the front lawn and planted wild flowers. Every autumn, the monarchs use a little patch of flowers (no more than 3x4) as an oasis. There are always at least 3 or 4 monarchs perched and having a fun time. Often there are a dozen or more. It's a magical pit stop. Here is a link to a photo I just took:

http://grvr.squarespace.com/storage/monarch.jpg

I want to grow more of these flowers. What are they? I don't remember where I got the flower or seeds. How do I do that?

Suggestions?

Oscar

Monarch's love milkweed, and this looks like it might be one of the milkweed varieties. I have an orange variety and the flowers are a bit different, but the leaves look about the same. From all I've read, milkweed is the only plant that attracts these beauties, and I'm hoping to get a patch established to bring them into my yard.

Thank you.

Here is a reply I just received from Monarch Watch. It looks like I don't even have Monarchs. They are Queen Butterflies. And Monarch Watch says this isn't milkweed. Here is the email:

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First thing, you have a great picture! However, it is a picture of a Queen butterfly and not a Monarch.

Here is a picture of a queen caterpillar - notice the queen has an extra set of filaments.

http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/2002/queen.html

This website you can see the difference between the two butterflies:

http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/monarc ... ysalis.php

They are both milkweed butterflies.

The plant in your picture is an Ageratum. The common name is mist flower.

You also will want to add some milkweed to your garden for the monarch and queen larvae!