It is now early July and flowers are starting to appear in bigger numbers. I feel this is a bit later than last year (that was a super hot and dry summer). I have yet to see monarchs in big numbers this year, the damp and overcast weather which we been having for a while might be delaying them a bit, or maybe the fact that the Cape is getting built up quickly, shrinking their habitat even more is really the underlying cause. Hopefully not, as this has been a banner year for one of their host plants, Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Despite rabbit grazing I have a hundred or so plants.
Another favorite of mine is Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) – this one is frequented continuously by bumblebees who make the best of the miniscule flowers.
I love the smell of both of these, although they are quite opposite on the spectrum. The milkweed is quite flowery and comes at you in heavy waves, reminiscent of perfumes that were worn in the 70s. Actaea racemosa has a distinct mothball smell that you won’t notice until you are up close.
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