Who Are You?
getting surprised in my own back yard, all over again
Thanks for connecting here at Nature Moments, where we explore the wonders unfolding in the world all around us all the time. I hope my photography + stories will inspire you to be curious, be amazed, and then do it again!
Your support helps me keep photographing and writing 💕
This is one of those nature moments where I learned something completely new in my own back yard. Again.
This story begins with Common Milkweed, which is best known as the host plant for Monarch Butterflies, right?
Common Milkweed is a deceptively dull name for a really stunning plant. It blooms in globes of multi-colored, star-shaped flowers, an unexpectedly-tropical-looking display in these northern, pine-forest-and-moose landscapes :)
It goes to seed in silky magic…
And I optimistically gather those seeds whenever-and-wherever I can and sprinkle them in various likely locations around our property, because it is one of my great aspirations in life to provide Common Milkweed sanctuary to as many generations of Monarch Butterflies as I possibly can!
(This lovely Monarch is visiting a swamp milkweed that we were able to coax along for a single season.)
But, for whatever random reason, even though Common Milkweed will literally emerge from the road-salt-encrusted gravel embankment just down the street, we haven’t had any luck getting it to grow anywhere on our own land. I have resolved to give this matter more specific attention next season, when I have a little more time to focus on a few farm-and-garden tasks. (Right now, I’m mostly just trying to keep my head above water with all the moving-back-home-from-Texas and finally-being-able-to-tackle-home-renovation projects.)
Well, just a few weeks ago, we were thrilled to finally spot a couple of young milkweed shoots in our wildflower field! Yay! But a couple of days later, we couldn’t seem to find our young Common Milkweeds anywhere…and that’s when I realized that this fuzzy caterpillar-pile was huddled at the top of the gnawed remains of their stems! Easy come, easy go. 🤣
These are Milkweed Tussock caterpillars. They are in their last instar, fattening up to weave a cocoon and emerge as next year’s Tiger Moths which, though they are not Monarchs, are really spectacular moths with a bright orange body hiding beneath velvety brown wings. I’ll be on the lookout, for sure :)
Milkweed Tussocks also munch on another wild shrub called dogbane, of which we happen to have an abundance. Upon checking the dogbane, we found clusters of tiger-striped furballs clinging to every stem there, too!
These little cuties are social eaters. While you will see singles here and there, they are mostly gathered in fuzzy tangles around their leafy buffets, munching it all down in collective enthusiasm.
And you know, I definitely do not begrudge these hungry, fuzzy, fabulous caterpillars their meals. First, because I learned so many fun and interesting things about them. And second, because it turns out that nature is full of balance in yet one more lovely detail.
Apparently, Monarch caterpillars prefer the young shoots of milkweed plants, while these Milkweed Tussocks are chowing them down during their final instar. So, theoretically, if we just keep ramping up our milkweed efforts, we should be able to feed Monarchs first, and Tussocks later, with enough at the homestead buffet for everyone and lots of wonderful winged friends in our future! More milkweed, please! 🤣🦋🤣
Visit my online gallery for custom-print wall art and decor, and bring some Nature Moments home to your everyday life!
Enjoy bringing the outside in? Come visit us at Riven Joiner & the Homestead Store for hand-crafted, nature-inspired Artisan Soaps, Woodworking & Home Goods.
When I was a small child we lived on a dead end street with woods and fields all around. I can remember going out into the field with my sister and other kids from the neighborhood and pulling those silky pods apart and letting the seeds scatter to the winds.
Fascinating discovery regarding those caterpillars, and keep it going with the milkweed! I’ve been trying to grow some in our garden, and was frustrated the first couple of years .. this year however they came up on time in the spring and by midsummer I had six plants that are almost as tall as I am, and I’m 6’3”. But no blooms on them. My hypothesis is that they’re working on developing their root systems this year, and I hope to see blooms next year. In the meantime I’m continuing to add other natives to support our local pollinators.