Bentley Seed Co. Blog

The Monarch Butterfly in the Northeast: A Fragile Beauty The Northeast region of the United States is home to many unique and beautiful butterfly species, including the iconic Monarch butterfly. These vibrant orange and black insects are renowned for their long-distance migrations and crucial role in the ecosystem. Sadly, Monarch populations are declining rapidly across North America, and one of the primary factors contributing to this decline is the disappearance of their primary food source: milkweed. The Milkweed Crisis: A Threat to Monarch Survival Native milkweed species throughout the Northeast, and indeed across the country, are facing severe decline. Herbicides and pesticides employed in large-scale agriculture are decimating these once-thriving plants. Additionally, habitat destruction due to development encroaching on natural areas is further reducing available milkweed growth. Climate change and extreme weather patterns also play a role in affecting milkweed availability. Without milkweed, the very survival of Monarch butterfly populations hangs in the balance. The Vital Role of Milkweed: A Butterfly’s Haven Milkweed holds paramount importance for the Monarch butterfly as it is the only plant on which they lay their eggs. Milkweed leaves contain cardenolides, a chemical toxic to most animals, but not to Monarch larvae. This inherent toxicity serves as a protective shield for the delicate eggs. Once hatched, the larvae ingest the milkweed, accumulating the cardenolides within their own bodies, making them unpalatable and even poisonous to potential predators. This protective mechanism, known as aposematism, allows the Monarch larvae to develop their signature bright coloration, warning predators of their toxicity. Northeast Milkweed Varieties: A Crucial Food Source The Northeast region supports a diverse range of milkweed species critical for Monarch butterfly conservation. The most prevalent species throughout the region is the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), thriving along roadsides and in open fields. For wetter habitats such as wetlands, the Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) provides vital sustenance. Another important variety is the Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), found in open fields and grassy meadows. These various species collectively represent a crucial food source for Monarch butterflies in the Northeast. Conservation Efforts: Protecting Milkweed and Saving Monarchs Fortunately, a dedicated effort is underway to protect native milkweed and restore its dwindling populations throughout the Northeast. Numerous conservation organizations are actively working to create Monarch butterfly habitats by planting regionally appropriate milkweed and other indigenous plants. These crucial efforts are essential for ensuring the survival of these beautiful pollinators and maintaining healthy ecosystems. How You Can Help: Actions for a Sustainable Future Beyond the work of dedicated organizations, individuals can also play a vital role in protecting milkweed and supporting pollinator populations in the Northeast. One of the most impactful actions you can take is to avoid using pesticides and herbicides in your gardens and yards. These chemicals harm not only milkweed but also other vital plants and insects. Instead, opt for organic or natural methods of pest and weed control. Planting native milkweed in your gardens and community areas is another powerful way to make a difference. Bentley Seeds now offers a diverse selection of native varieties specifically suited for your Northeast gardens and yards. By creating vibrant habitats with milkweed and other suitable plants, you can directly contribute to the preservation of the Monarch butterfly and its vital role in our ecosystem. Together, through proactive conservation efforts and individual action, we can ensure the continued existence of the remarkable Monarch butterfly in the Northeast and beyond. By protecting their essential milkweed habitat, we safeguard not only a stunning species but also the health and balance of our natural world. Monarch Butterfly on Swamp Milkweed in Saratoga Springs in August 2022

Planting milkweed and creating sanctuary habitats for Monarch butterflies is critical in preserving this beautiful species. By taking action to support milkweed and Monarch butterflies, we can make a difference in their conservation and contribute to the biodiversity of native plants across the country.

Since 1975, Bentley Seed Company has been in business to help people grow good things. A lead supplier for decades of vegetable, herb and flower seed packets, Bentley delivers a carefully curated collection of only-the-best seeds that seasoned gardeners can rely on, and beginning gardeners can easily find success growing. 

We spend a lot of time marveling at and sharing our knowledge about bees and other pollinators and stressing the importance of creating landscapes that can sustain them. But as days shorten and temperatures cool in most parts of the country, summer becomes an increasingly distant memory, perhaps begging the question: what happens to the pollinators during winter?

For the past several years, there has been growing public furor over the presence of neonicotinoids in flowering plants grown in the U.S. which some experts believe are responsible for dwindling bee populations. Widely used by farmers since the 1990’s when they were introduced, neonicotinoids are nicotine-derived systemic pesticides, designed to prevent insects from damaging crops. The pesticide is applied by coating the seeds used to grow a variety of crops including the vast majority of fruits and vegetables grown in this country. Residual amounts of pesticide remain in the plants as they flower and are ingested by bees drinking their nectar. While various studies have linked this ubiquitous pesticide to the well publicized colony collapse disorder (CCD) affecting domesticated honey bees, the dramatic decline in the native bee population is of even greater concern. Since 2006, when the alarm bells started ringing about CCD, the decline of more than 700 species of native bees in the U.S. has also been noted, with about half that number in danger of becoming extinct. Why are bees dying? The Importance of Bees to our Food Supply Many people are only vaguely aware of the multitude of bee species that live among us; only certain ones are universally recognized such as yellow jackets, bumble bees, and hornets, for example. In fact, there are 4000 native bee species in the U.S. responsible for pollinating 80 percent of flowering plants. One third of the food we grow is pollinated by bees. In particular, native bees are instrumental to the cultivation of many popular fruits, including tomatoes, eggplants, pumpkins, watermelons, blueberries, and cranberries, which are incapable of self fertilization. Native Bees are Super Pollinators Of course, domesticated honey bees are also important crop pollinators; without them, we probably wouldn’t have California almonds. But native bees are generally more effective pollinators, responsible for production of twice as much fruit, in the case of blueberries, for example, than honey bees. In addition, honey bees aren’t big enough to pollinate tomatoes; that work is left to the efforts of native bumble bees. While we are worried about the wellbeing of all bees, domesticated and native, given their importance for fertilizing crops as well as flowers, we are concerned that the plight of the native bees has not gotten enough attention. Most wild bees do not live in social colonies that can be managed; they lead a solitary existence, nesting in the hollow stems of wildflowers, in the ground or in wild brushy areas. Why are the Native Bees Disappearing? Almost all experts believe the reason for the decline in native bee populations is multi-dimensional perhaps due, in part, to pesticides, but most certainly due to other factors as well. A major contributing factor is related to the loss of the bees’ natural habitat as more and more “wild” land is developed to make way for new roads and houses with manicured yards. Bees Need Nutrition all Season Long Another important consideration is the bees’ disappearing food supply. All bees require sustenance and nutrition derived from the nectar of flowers throughout their entire lifespan. For native bees, which don’t store nectar as honey in hives as do honey bees, it’s critical that there is a plentiful supply of early, mid and late blooming annual and perennial flowering plants all season long. Monoculture practices of modern large scale farming operations whereby one crop is cultivated to the exclusion of all others, means that all the plants in a wide area flower at the same time for a short period, leaving the local native bees without food the rest the time. Bentley Seeds Wants to Help Save the Bees Our passion for the environment and the natural world led our family into the seed business over 40 years ago, and we continue to strive to be responsible stewards of the Earth today. Our high quality seeds come from small U.S. farms which practice sustainable growing methods. The seeds are non-GMO as well as “open-pollinated” which means they are from genetically diverse plant stock that will adapt well to their local growing conditions. Our packaging is eco-friendly, made out of recycled paper and printed with soy-based inks. As part of our company culture, we embrace using fewer resources and making the most of what we do use, to reduce our carbon footprint and landfill waste. Home Gardeners: How to Help Bees Plant non-GMO, pesticide-free bee and bird friendly flowers – everywhere! We offer a Bee Feed Flower Seed Mix as well as a Bird & Butterfly Attracting Seed Mix for this purpose. Even if you don’t have a lot of room, it would be helpful reserve some part of your yard not only for native flowering plants but for wild brush to serve as a nesting area. If you live in an apartment, maybe you can plant a flower box! Choose non-hybridized plants that have single flower tops, rich in nectar for the bees, such as marigolds and daisies. Plant Flowers early, mid and late season flowers to provide a steady supply of bee food. Bees need a fresh source of water too! A shallow container with a place to land will do. Use natural methods to keep pests in check. Prognosis for Bees’ Future: Sobering yet Hopeful As has oft been repeated in the media since the possibility of bees becoming extinct became widely known in 2006: what’s happening to the bees may well be a sobering reminder writ large of what’s happening to our global environment. Becoming aware and understanding the problem is the first step. Then, if each and every one of us makes an effort to grow at least one pesticide-free pollinator-attracting flowering plant every season, maybe we can save the bees…and maybe save ourselves in the process.

For those who grew up spending a lot of time outdoors in nature, the mention of milkweed may conjure up childhood memories of playing in open fields colonized with riotous collections of untamed, native plants. The favorite among them may have been the milkweed with its strange pods bursting with…come to think of it, what WAS that silky stuff that floated off into the air when you blew on it? Casual observers who happen upon milkweed today may admire the plants’ fragrant, intricately-patterned, pink flowers accenting the late summer goldenrod display, but they may not fully appreciate the importance of their role in the environment. Milkweed plants serve as an important food source for a number of insect species that help keep nature in balance as well as pollinate some of our most important crops. But native milkweed is also the key to the survival of the iconic and endangered monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Unfortunately, as more and more open space succumbs to development, milkweed isn’t as ubiquitous as it once was, contributing to the decline of the monarch population and other, less-celebrated insect species. The good news is that gardeners can help reverse the trend by planting native milkweed in their backyards. Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars Need Milkweed While beneficial insects and pollinators snack on a wide variety of plants and flowers, monarch butterflies seek out milkweed as a host for their eggs because it’s the only plant their larvae will eat. Migrating monarch butterflies deposit their eggs on milkweed plants in the spring on their return trip home to various regions of the U.S. from their overwintering site in Mexico. The eggs hatch into baby caterpillars that voraciously consume the milkweed plant leaves, quickly metamorphosing into butterflies and flying away to continue the cycle of life. Mother Nature created an ingeniously symbiotic relationship between some insects, such as monarch caterpillars, and milkweed plants. Milkweed contains a substance that is toxic to most insects and animals when ingested. But, for other species—like the monarch caterpillar, for example—the chemical compound is not toxic; they store the compounds in their tissue, rendering them toxic to potential predators, aiding their survival. Plant Native Milkweed Only Unfortunately, the marvelous system described above only works with native milkweed, not the increasingly-ubiquitous tropical milkweed. This non-native milkweed—Asclepias curassavica—also known as Mexican butterfly weed, has become popular in recent years among gardeners in warm regions of the country. Its popularity is due to the fact that it’s attractive, fast growing, and attracts monarch butterflies, but isn’t as unruly or invasive as native milkweed. The problem is because this milkweed doesn’t go dormant in winter, producing flowers continuously all year, it attracts monarch butterflies, even when it’s not seasonally-appropriate. This upsets their breeding and life-cycle. In addition, because tropical milkweed is available to snack on all year long, monarchs and other butterflies are not motivated to continue their migration to find other food sources. The result is the same toxic compounds that help keep the caterpillars and butterflies safe, builds up and becomes lethal, contributing to the decline of the overall butterfly population. Thus, gardeners are encouraged to cut tropical milkweed to the ground a few times each season, forcing the monarchs to move on, or, better yet, plant native milkweed. There are various species of native Milkweed—Asclepias—that grow in different regions of the U.S. and bloom at different times: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Antelope-horns Milkweed (Asclepias asperula) Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) Milkweed is easy to grow from seed and requires relatively little maintenance. And, of course, gardeners want to avoid applying pesticides or insecticides, which would defeat the purpose of growing milkweed. By the way, in addition to serving as a critical habitat and food source for important insects that benefit our environment, milkweed has had other important historical uses. For example, its sap—which is so toxic to certain animal and insect species as described above, while also toxic to humans in large quantities—was used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes, along with other parts of the plants. It was also used in cooking and as fiber for bow strings, fishing line, thread and belts. And, looping back to the question of the silky contents of the milkweed seed pods. While we may have goofed around with them as kids, blowing them at each other, they actually played an important historical role in World War II. The waterproof and buoyant silky seeds were used as filling for critically-needed flotation devices after the Japanese cut off the supply of kapok, a plant fiber previously used for that purpose. In essence, milkweed helped win the war! So, next time you’re thinking about what to plant in bare spaces of your yard, consider planting milkweed seeds. They will require little work and will pay off in the long run. They do tend to sprawl and spread so make sure you give them plenty of room. The more the merrier, right?

The appearance of butterflies in spring and summer elicits universal delight. With their delicate wings and varied colors and intricate markings, along with their seemingly capricious flight paths, they are a never-ending source of fascination and wonder. Sadly, more than a few butterfly species are listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—including the beloved monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)—due to loss of their habitat. But gardeners can help save the butterflies through judicious planting and landscaping as we explain below. (Photo: National Weather Service) Interestingly, butterflies made the national news in the fall of 2017: a huge swarm suddenly appeared as a giant, spectacularly-colored blob on Colorado weather radar, prompting confused personnel at the National Weather Service to reach out to the public on the ground via Twitter for help determining what it was. It turns it was a 70-mile mass of Painted Lady butterflies making their way toward their winter migration grounds in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Why do Butterflies Migrate? Painted lady butterflies, a species commonly confused with their larger, more famous migrating cousin, the monarch butterfly, are found all across the continental U.S. during warmer months. These butterflies are not only beautiful but they serve a critical function in our environment by pollinating important flowers and providing food in caterpillar form for some of our favorite birds. As the days become shorter, accompanied by cooler, fluctuating temperatures—signaling the start of fall—certain species of butterflies are prompted to begin their seasonal migration. Since they’re cold-blooded, butterflies simply can’t handle the cold in the north and some species head to warmer climes in order to survive long enough to reproduce. Other species remain, spending the winter as caterpillars or pupae; a few species of adult butterflies hibernate locally in crevices of trees or other structures. What do Butterflies Eat? Migrating butterflies must head south in search of fresh food sources. Adult butterflies consume a variety of different substances for nourishment, including flower nectar, tree sap, pollen, and rotting fruit ‘juice’—culinary fare which isn’t normally available in northern winters. Adult butterflies drink—not eat—for sustenance. Migrating butterfly larvae, which emerge as caterpillars in the spring, on the other hand, eat leaves and flowers, in enormous quantities. By the way, here’s a fun fact: adult butterflies taste with their feet which means they can sense what a flower tastes like simply by landing on it. Multiple Species of Migrating Butterflies There are various species of North American butterflies that migrate, in addition to the the two listed above, they include Common Buckeye, American Lady, Red Admiral, Cloudless Sulphur, Skipper, Sachem, Question Mark, Clouded Skipper, Fiery Skipper, and Mourning Cloak. As has been well-documented, awe-inspiring monarch butterflies migrate the longest distances, taking advantage of air currents and thermals with some sort of internal compass—traveling sometimes up to 3,000 miles! Where do Monarch Butterflies spend the Winter? Monarch butterflies return to overwinter in the same locations near the coast in southern California and in the mountain forests of central Mexico every year. They spend the winter together roosting in a tight cluster in the trees in order to stay warm and conserve energy in anticipation of breeding in late winter and then, shortly afterward, commencing the return trip north. Interestingly, though, the butterflies that head south in the fall for semi-hibernation are not the same ones that left the preceding spring—they are a subsequent generation. Yet, somehow, the latest generation knows to return to the same overwintering spot—a remarkable and mysterious feat of nature. Unfortunately, these overwintering habitats have been shrinking due to urban development and deforestation due to climate change, which has contributed to the documented decline in the population of monarch butterflies in the last twenty years. The good news is various wildlife experts and both the U.S. and Mexican governments have been working together to try and come up with a plan to address this problem, though time is running out. Monarch Butterfly Spring Migration In early spring, as they embark on their return trip, the nomadic monarchs slowly make their way to the southwestern U.S. where they seek out milkweed plants as a place to lay their eggs, using a combination of visual and chemical cues. Monarch butterfly larvae—the caterpillars that quickly emerge from the eggs—ONLY eat milkweed which is why it’s so important that the adults are able to find it. If they’re successful, they launch the next generation—before dying a few weeks later. The caterpillars develop into butterflies and continue the migration north. It will take several generations—and a lot of milkweed plants along their route—for monarch butterflies to make it back to their summer home. Adult monarchs feed on a variety of nectar-producing flowering plants in addition to milkweed. It’s important that milkweed and other life-sustaining plants are available from early spring until late fall to ensure the butterflies always have something to eat (or rather, drink). Wanted: Home Gardeners to Plant Milkweed Unfortunately, native milkweed plants have been disappearing due to modern, large-scale farming and weed control practices, which have been the biggest contributor to the drop in the monarch population, according to researchers. While conservationists are busy trying to work out a broad solution to this problem, home gardeners can help, starting immediately: Plant milkweed species native to your area. Of the estimated 75 or so species of milkweed native to the U.S., about 30 of them have been documented as monarch larval hosts. However, seeds are only available publicly for about a dozen of them, and even fewer might be available locally depending on where you live. Ordering online from reputable seed company may be your best bet :-). Reliable native species of milkweed include: asclepias syriaca, asclepias incarnata, asclepias tuberosa, asclepias speciosa. It’s important that you plant high quality, genetically-appropriate, locally adapted seeds. Spread the word: local, wild milkweed plants are not useless weeds—they need to be preserved! Plant a assorted collection of colorful, nectar- and pollen-rich flowers timed for successive blooming throughout the growing season. Butterflies are near-sighted so planting masses of flowers works best to attract them. Plant the flowers in a sunny location. Butterflies love warm sunny places! Plant fruit trees, if you have the space. Don’t use commercial, chemical insecticides or herbicides. If garden pests become a problem, try natural remedies. Provide places for butterflies to rest in the sunlight such as flat stones, for example. Make water available to the butterflies via birdbaths, ponds, fountains or sprinklers. Experts say that the butterflies don’t need the water for hydration since they get that through the flower nectar, but they need a place to “puddle” in the moist soil, extracting needed minerals. Butterflies and the Environment Butterflies and other pollinators are important for our food supply as well as many of the beautiful flowers that surround us in summer. But they are also a bellwether for our environmental health. If their numbers continue to drop, that doesn’t bode well for the rest of us. If we all just plant a few native flowers including milkweed, we can make a difference.