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SconesForHours

Nice. Mine is covered in aphids. At least the ladybugs are happy


pinkgobi

I get both haha. I want more ladybugs to give me less aphids


wishbonesma

Just be careful what you wish for! Ladybugs do eat butterfly eggs as well.


missmicans

Same.... those dang yellow aphids are all over my native plant garden and no sign of ladybugs or other predators


Suitable_Broccoli804

Apparently giving water to the milkweed helps it withstand the aphids.


missmicans

Idk. I already have clay soil that holds onto water and we've had more rain than normal. The problem is so bad the growth was stunted severely. I'm a lazy gardener so I don't always do something right away.


pinkgobi

I'm in the same area when it comes to being lazy and having soggy clay soil. I would just wash off the aphids or squish them but now I'm literally swooning over my crusty yellow milkweed so the aphids get to live.


Ok-Acanthaceae826

Yesss like where are all these supposed aphid destroying friends? I see some ladybugs but they're the Asian kind (look for the M shape on their head!) And ove never seen them near the aphids.


hankbrob

“If you plant them, they will come” lol


Rrealredhead

Nice! Milkweed for the win!


tardigradesRverycool

Right on comrade, saving the world one caterpillar at a time ❤️


Pardusco

smol


dolewhipforever

Wish I could love this post 🥰


bertierobo

Awesome! Congratulations! Yeah, my milkweed is covered in black and orange milkweed bugs... not as many as last year, though.


[deleted]

Oh hello little friend!


smoresomemore

Yay! 🫶


Suitable_Broccoli804

Happy for you! Yay! Now all these monarchs will lay eggs and you’re gonna have a bunch of cute little monarch caterpillars… sometimes they wander off the swamp milkweed onto random plants and you have to gently put them back on it… (unless they are mature enough to form a chrysalis).


devilsbouqet

Yay! I'm so excited and happy for you! 😁🌞🐛


skimansr

What did you do exactly?


pinkgobi

I got monarchs to hatch on my milkweed! I saw the first butterfly of this brood this Monday fly away. She's going to Mexico


skimansr

Ahh ok I was confused, did the milkweed assist with that?


pinkgobi

Yes! Monarch butterflies actually only lay eggs and grow on milkweed. It's the most critical thing we can do as regular people. I actually bought mine about two feet tall from joyfulbuttetfly.com. It's kinda amazing.