I have milkweed plants because they are essential to the survival of monarch butterflies, and I recently had fun trying to capture images of the seeds. Isn’t this arrangement a great example of beautiful and efficient packaging?
The individual seeds are an engineering marvel, too. The way they float in the air seems magical to me.
If you don’t already have milkweeds in your garden, I hope you’ll plant some this spring. The flowers are beautiful, the seeds are fascinating, and you’ll be helping monarchs. Susan Smith-Durisek recently wrote an excellent article in the Lexington Herald-Leader about the challenges monarchs are facing.
I hope you can join me for Dr. Chip Taylor’s presentation this Wednesday, February 12. He will talk about the status of monarchs, and how we can help.
Extraordinary pictures! Thanks.
Thanks, Sara, I’m lucky to have such an extraordinary subject.
Hello Betty,
What superb photos of the Milkweed seeds, and yes, i will certainly do my best
to plant some in our garden this year. What a great subject for macro photography!
Glad to hear you are willing to give them a try, Pauline.
When I first opened the picture all I saw was the top and it looked like a fancy hairdo to me! Beautiful.
Oh, my, Keli. That would be a fancy hairdo!
You captured these delicate seed perfectly!
Thanks, Ann. They were fun to play with.
AMAZING photos! I actually planted some milkweed in the unmanicured section of our neighborhood park. Hope they survive!
Good for you, Christine, and I, too, hope they survive.
Stunning photos !
Thanks, Judy. It was fun to be working with another one of nature’s marvels.
Love your pics Betty! I have always loved the milkweed seeds!
Thanks, Deborah. The only time I didn’t love them was when some went ‘wild’ in the house!
Your photos are just lovely. I think it would be a good idea for the Arboretum to give away milkweed seeds. Do you know where I can acquire some?
Carolyn, I have some ideas for seed sources. Will do some checking and be in touch.