Butterfly

Asclepias Tuberosa is the botanical name for Butterfly Weed. A native milkweed also grows on the ranch viridiflora Raf. (green antelopehorn) as well as viridis Walt. (antelopehorn).
 
The sun brings out the fragrance of lavender in the Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden. Asclepias Tuberosa, and Asclepias Curssavica a showy milkweed from Mexico can be found growing in our cultivated beds, but several other wild species are found on the ranch. There is a Sandy Milkweed and Antelopehorn Green Milkweed which can also be found growing along the dry chalky soils at the San Domingo. Each year a great wave of Monarchs pass through in the fall for more information on the Monarchs or to check online to see your locale or go to http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/News.html for more information.
 
Mostly we plan to provide for them during their stay,  and see them safely on their way. Besides Milkweed we supplement their forage with a variety of plants. The NABA or North American of Butterfly Gardeners publishes a list of plantings that we subscribe to, so we are sure there is plenty of variety for Monarch and non Monarch populations alike.
Many species of Lepidoptera abound, including the Monarch. At the San Domingo we plant for their migrations, which occur twice a year making the San Domingo an ideal place to view their progress.