Summer Blooms and Bugs of Iowa Prairie

The prairie is in full bloom! Take a look at all of the summer pollinators at Blooming Prairie. 

Asclepias syriaca, Common Milkweed in front of seed production rows of Lobelia siphilitica, Great Blue Lobelia and Pycnanthemum virginianum, Mountain Mint both of which are not yet blooming. 

Milkweed flowers have a very sweet and attractive floral scent! 

Common Milkweed almost in bloom.

Swallowtail butterfly on catmint.

Liatris plants getting ready to bloom later this summer.

Spot the coneflower species along with the coreopsis.

BEAUTIFUL BUG.

Butterfly Weed next to Coneflower

Coreopsis palmata, Prairie Coreopsis

Echinacea pallida, Pale Purple Coneflower

Echinacea pallida, Pale Purple Coneflower

Echinacea angustifolia, Narrow-leaved Coneflower

Monarch larvae are here!

Danaus plexippus, Monarch Butterfly, larvae alert! Crawling about the Asclepias incarnata, Swamp Milkweed and Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Milkweed was this little guy!

                    

Remember to plant milkweed if you want the Monarchs around because the larva feed on its leaves. If you are looking for adult butterfly food, check out some Aster, Eupatorium, Liatris and Solidago species! Blooming Prairie Nursery has plenty, so contact us at bloomingprairienursery@gmail.com or stop by our market stall at the Des Moines Farmers' Market!