Milkweed is in its full blooming glory right now. Not just the big pink ones, but also orange, white, and green-flowered varieties. I spent a couple hours at Lincoln Creek Prairie this week, photographing lots of different subject matter, but milkweed definitely constituted a dominant theme in the resulting photos. And yes, Bill, I hit the south lobe on the east side of the creek, and it was beautiful, as you promised. Thanks for the tip.
Here are some of the many milkweed photos I took this week.
A large milkweed bug ( Oncopeltus fasciatus ) on the buds of butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)Common milkweed flower budsSullivant’s milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)The same large milkweed bug, but on a different nearby flower.More common milkweed flower buds; because I like them.A skipper butterfly (Sachem?) on common milkweed.Common milkweed blossoms with thrips (the tiny insects).Pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos) on common milkweed.The American bumblebee (Bombus pennsylvanicus), appropriately photographed on the 4th of July, on Sullivant’s milkweed.
The photo of the Milkweed buds would make excellent designer paper for cardmaking and scrapbooking!
I know I do not give ppl credit where it is due often enough. So, I want to say, “Thanks, Chris”. It is an honor to be able to interact with someone who is so famous in the conservation community.
Up here in northeast South Dakota the larger milkweed won’t be in full bloom until next week, but the patches of whorled milkweed are in full bloom. Taking note for seed collecting later. Thanks.
The Prairie Ecologist 
Wow! Beautiful!
Asclepias is one of my favorite genera. You captured them beautifully here, your photography is stunning.
Great pics!
Thank you for posting these beautiful pictures. This is the first picture of thrips I’ve ever seen. Now I can recognize what I’ve only heard about!
Such splendid photos of the milkweeds, and their friends.
The photo of the Milkweed buds would make excellent designer paper for cardmaking and scrapbooking!
I know I do not give ppl credit where it is due often enough. So, I want to say, “Thanks, Chris”. It is an honor to be able to interact with someone who is so famous in the conservation community.
Beautiful post — thank you, Chris!
Love the photos! Thanks for posting Chris.
Is the other flower Butterfly Weed?
The milkweed bug was on butterfly milkweed, yes. One flower had only buds, the other was open.
Up here in northeast South Dakota the larger milkweed won’t be in full bloom until next week, but the patches of whorled milkweed are in full bloom. Taking note for seed collecting later. Thanks.
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These are wonderful photographs. Thank you