Park Ranger Teri found these Narrowleaf Milkweed plants in 2019, in an area that had previously been grazed by cows. It was an exciting find--both because it was a new flower and because it is a host plant for monarch butterflies (see more below).
The plants were found late in the season after they had already bloomed.
All of the milkweed plants at Rockville have large populations of Oleander Aphids.
A monarch butterfly caterpillar on the Narrowleaf Milkweed. Milkweeds are the butterfly's host plant, and the diminishing number of monarch butterflies are tied to the loss of milkweed plants. This photo was taken by Park Ranger Teri. Copyright 2019.
Sprouting plants in 2020.
With buds!
The first blooms I've found at Rockville!
In the circle is an enlargement of a monarch butterfly egg. Monarchs usually lay eggs in July and August, and this was taken in mid-July 2020.