The above photo features milkweed pods that have split open with milkweed assassin bugs hanging around on them, just waiting for prey. This is such a convenient hunting spot where the assassin bugs can ambush their prey and trap them with their sticky front feet. We found these pods in Peabody Park on the northwest side of the University of North Carolina Greensboro. These seeds of today will be the milkweed plants of next spring.

We encourage you (wherever you live, but especially in Greensboro) to plant milkweed. As monarch butterfly habitat becomes compromised, and with the use of pesticides, growing milkweed plants is even more important. With the Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center and Butterfly Habitat at the Greensboro Science Center, our city is making a concerted effort to protect the monarch population. The habitat at the science center is now closed as the netted ceiling has been opened up, and the monarchs are now on their way to the El Rosario Monarch Sanctuary in Michoacan, Mexico. If you have 5 minutes, you should watch this video and feel proud that Greensboro plays a role is helping the monarch population.

As for us, we’re heading to the Greensboro Curb Market Open Market Pops Up Event at Providence Farm. While we’re there, we’re gonna check with Joy about whether or now they have milkweed and why or why not. Joy is such a wealth of information. Hope to see you there!