What native plant that grows throughout this area is beneficial to local wildlife, underused in commercial and domestic landscapes, and attractive?  For 2015, that plant is Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).  As a nod to our 2013 Wild for Monarchs Campaign, Butterfly Milkweed will be used as a teaching tool to help homeowners, landscapers and public and corporate landowners understand that native plants are more sustainable and support wildlife like pollinators. Among Butterfly Milkweed's attributes:

• Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun.
• Drought tolerant and a good rain garden plant.
• Host plant for the Monarch Butterfly caterpillar
• Showy orange flowers provide nectar for many butterflies, bees and other pollinators

As supply of pesticide-free plants is available, we will sell Butterfly Milkweed at events and programs.  Additionally, Wild Ones members have been asking local gardening centers and nurseries to make sure Milkweed and other native nectar and host plants they sell are grown without systemic insecticides like the neonicotinoid class of pesticides.  Make sure you ask how plants you buy are propagated and raised!