I am looking for milkweed

Hi Laura,

I live in New Orleans (Carrollton) but this week I've been driving to Baton Rouge for a series of meetings. Yesterday I stopped at the Lowe's store on Siegen Lane and saw lots of milkweed plants in the garden center. They had 1 gallon pots of 'Silky Red' (Mixed red and gold blooms) and 'Silky Gold' (solid gold blooms). I think this was a new shipment so you might want to check the Lowe's closest to you. I couldn't find a price so I don't know how much they were but these were gorgeous healthy plants! I bought milkweed at the hummingbird/butterfly sale at City Park last year and mine didn't look anywhere near as good as these! Lots of flowers and bright green leaves. I was thrown off a little bit because they didn't call them milkweed. If they had not had the scientific name on them (Asclepias) I would have been a little uncertain about what they really were. I can't remember exactly what Lowe's called them but it sounded made up. I guess their marketing guys think people don't want to buy plants with the word "weed" in the name :)

Also, as I mentioned earlier City Park has a hummingbird/butterfly sale every year. You just missed the one for this year. It was two weeks ago. The 1 gallon pots were $5, 3 gallon shrubs were $15. They had milkweed, buddleia, lantana, duranta, firebush, roses ($8), bamboo (not sure what bamboo has to do with butterflies or hummers), hyacinth bean, iris and lots more! They had any plant you can think of that hummers and butterflies feed or breed on. It rained really hard all that day but there were lots of other kooks out there in the rain with me! They're having a tropical sale next month and their big fall sale is in October (huge event with great prices!) If you're interested you can check their web site at http://www.neworleanscitypark.com/garden/index.html?cal.html&1

Good luck with your butterfly garden!

Mary Ann

Hi Mary Ann, welcome to DG. Hop on over to the Welcome Mat forum http://davesgarden.com/f/welcome/ and introduce yourself when you get time. It is always nice to see a neighbor. We have been getting lots of new Louisiana folks here lately, sure is nice! I have worked the plant sales a couple of times already at City Park (in the childrens exhibit) for the Master Gardeners, it was so much fun.



This message was edited Thursday, Jun 19th 6:31 AM

Thanks for welcome Lisa! My stepdaughter commutes to Nicholls everyday. She tried UNO but she really likes the environment at Nicholls.

I was a little shy about doing the Welcome Mat thing but I'm heading over there right now!

Mary Ann

Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks for your help and welcome to Dave's Garden. I seen you were a new member from New Orleans and I sent you a note it may of been yesterday. Sorry it's Summer and I can't remember my days anymore. lol

I was one of the kooks out there in the rain with you Mary Ann! lol I love those sells and I did get 2 little Milk weed plants. I had got a large one in the mail from the same company I ordered 2 Cats from. I'll be putting pictures up of them today. My daughter is loving raising them. Since it's been raining so much it's been giving her something special to do inside.

We have to get us a wagon over here. We go to the City Park sale all the time and we get as much as we can carry. You should see my fiance he looks like a walking bush or something out of a scary movie. lol I can't believe he can carry that much. We take those black plant crates, but they can only hold so much. I would of loved some of their bamboo. :( Maybe they will have some in July. :)

Hi Lisa, I bet I've seen you before at one of those sells and don't even know it. :)

It was nice meeting you Mary Ann, glad to see some more Louisiana people here and I look forward to talking with you.

talk to ya soon,
lauraM