President's Note: Milkweed Regrowth

Milkweeds are important for monarch butterfly caterpillars. They are necessary for full development to a mature monarch butterfly. 

We know monarchs sometimes lay eggs as they migrate south through Oklahoma. The issue is what makes milkweed attractive in the late summer. Old plants from the spring don’t seem to attract monarchs. 

It has been shown that if milkweed is cut back in mid-June, the plants will regrow and flower, and are more attractive to monarchs. The photo shows a field near the Kerr Center Office which was clipped in mid-June.  The antelope horn milkweed has regrown and flowered. 

Hopefully this clean, fresh milkweed will prove attractive to fall migrating monarchs.