Remember the Clarkia spp. plants I wrote about in Cultivating a Love of Native Plants through Solidarity Stories (June 2024)? As is often the case in community, the story continues . . .

One gardener who picked up and planted one of those Clarkia giveaways later contacted me to say ‘thanks’ and to offer yarrow from their own yard. She also told me about a milkweed stand in her neighborhood. She wanted to be sure it was the right kind so she sent a photo. She then connected the neighbor with me and–no surprise–we were already connected! In fact, the milkweed growing-neighbor is a three-time donor to The School Garden Doctor!

This fall, she offered to collect and donate milkweed seeds. And she’s not the only one.

I recently spent the early morning at the CanDo’s Garden for the Food Bank harvesting the pods of Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) before it spreads into the vegetable rows. This harvest was, once again, an offer that came from a community conversation I had at the Napa Farmers Market where I tabled six Tuesdays this summer.

I had another milkweed connection while on vacation in June: numerous milkweed sightings (and a monarch sighting too) on Peak’s Island, Portland, ME. Of course, I shared the importance of monarch conservation with my travel companions, which prompted one of them to search for milkweed seeds online when we returned from our trip. I’m glad he asked what kind is best for Napa.

From Instagram: Monarch sighting on #peaksislandmaine plus milkweed in the school garden. Yes, THE school. A singular elementary school on an island where only a thousand people live during peak season. 🏫 🌱 👐

Finally, before school started again, I visited the garden at NVLA (featured in Collaborating to Support Monarch Butterflies, May 2024). Not only was the Waystation thriving, but the existing stand of Asclepias fascicularis was already dispersing its seeds (see featured image above).