Asclepias - Who knew!?

Sarah (aka Auntie Naynay) is a very good ol' employee of the MNR.  She is one of those people who actually finds their job interesting and often relays interesting tidbits my way.

During our Saturday morning outing this week, she informed me that milkweed is a really important native plant.  It's the only source of food for monarch butterfly larvae, so is crucial for increasing their numbers.  We were, at the time,  busy throwing clumps of milkweed fluff into the air.  Yes! Disperse, oh milkweed, and multiply!!

I always thought it was a nasty weed that people tried to get rid of, but now I know better!  Charley, helpful chap that he is, gathered as many pods as would fit in his pant pockets and coat and hauled them home.  As they dry out the seeds and fluff burst forward in a very, very pleasing manner.  (I mean, they CAN start to escape and float around the house, but who's fussy about such things??).

Who knew the good I was doing as I spent happy childhood hours 'freeing' the milkweed and dispersing it?

Now you know.

In other news, here's the look that Miss Evy chooses to aim at her mother more and more regularly.  Can you say 'disdain'?

"Mother, I'm busy with Alterna-Mommy!"

I love this photos, because I think it's the only picture in the world where I look a bit like Sarah.   I was rather busy keeping tikes from plunging in.  Fishing is very, very important when you're 2.  Or 4.

Note waistband security fingers in place.  When forced to choose, I protect the youngest child.  I spend these moments imagining life with 3 kids.  More kids than hands seems craaaaa-zy to me!

There you go... Children, rivers and milkweed.  All in a day's work.