Greetings, dear readers.

I found treasure today. Well – something I treasure. I saw them first a couple days ago and wanted to be sure before I let myself celebrate.

This is what I found:

This is Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, the familiar food plant of Monarchs and other butterflies. It will be weeks before their beautiful heads of pink flowers appear and bloom, but I love their soft textured leaves and the promise they hold. I was thrilled to find dozens of them dotting a roadside where I’ve never seen so many before.

I don’t know why so many of these wonderful plants have appeared here, along a roadside I walk almost every day. I know that the butterflies will follow and if I am watchful, I will be able to see the lovely black, yellow, and white banded caterpillars feed and grow.

The caterpillars don’t pupate on their food plants, so I would have to be very lucky to find a spectacular green and gold chrysalis nearby. If I see fresh Monarchs in mid-summer, I will know they grew up here.

It is a lovely thought.

Readers, I hope you are keeping safe and well and I hope there are sweet spring surprises for you too. I welcome all your comments and I am grateful you are here!