Milkweed Clusters
I have located three milkweed clusters since 2003 on my place–central Texas, Erath County. Today I sought the three clusters again, one directly in front of the house, one alongside the road to the barn, and the cluster in the far field, one-quarter of a mile away. I found only the cluster photographed above–the cluster beside the road to the barn. I found no milkweed in the far field nor in the front yard. I believe that this spring has been mild so far and some heat is needed to bring out other patches of milkweed. Today, as I walked the fields, I discovered a large Monarch in the grove that soared out of the grass and into the sky above the trees. A huge Monarch, one the largest I have ever seen. Then as I finished my field trip, in the front yard, a Monarch flitted above the cut-leaf daisy and lawn grass. Two Monarchs, one patch of milkweed that has ten clusters of blossoms (you can only see seven in the above photograph)–definitely an event to be recorded for 2015. I will continue to monitor the milkweed and Monarchs, posting the field trips I take to far and near fields on my place.
Sage to Meadow ~ Jack Matthews 
I’ve been seeing Monarchs (or perhaps Viceroys) the past week, too. You might be interested in these very detailed instructions for getting milkweed seed to germinate. It’s more complicated than I realized, but also explains why I’ve never been able to get any to grow in pots. There are several groups that make seed available. It might be worth it to give it a go.
Whoops. It would be good to add the link!
Thank you, Linda. I do the same thing, forget to link when I say, I will.
I was certain I saw a Monarch yesterday (Wichita County) but figured it couldn’t be so! But if you have been seeing them also, perhaps I was right!
You probably did see one. There may be more. Thanks for your comment. Good luck on sighting others.
The two species, milkweed and monarchs, are tied together as tightly as a sailor’s knot. The loss of so much milkweed form round-up and other herbicides has greatly reduced monarch numbers. So nice to read that people like you care about the small patches that continue to support dwindling numbers. We are still snow covered here. But in a month or so the milkweed should reappear, however, no flowers until late summer on this species.
I am seeing more milkweed on the road between my place and I-20, about four miles of highway. I say there may be an increase of 20% of plants. Still, not enough, but improving. This is an area of few plowed fields, mostly pasture and brush. Still snow-covered! Wow, what moisture preserved you have. Take care, Bill.