Date: 04/20/2016

Number: 1

First wild whorled milkweed sighted today, growing off last year's stalks in a local park. The first common milkweed I spotted two days ago is now 4-5 inches tall, and is now much more widespread. Temperatures continue unseasonably warm.

I checked soil temperatures with the Illinois State Water Survey: on April 18, the 4 inch/8 inch soil temperatures were 58/59 degrees F, respectively. A tad warmer today (about 60). For comparison, the temperatures were 49/48 degrees only a week earlier (April 11). There is probably a particular "trigger" temperature needed for these to sprout (this could explain why some people have had milkweed sprout in their gardens much earlier, if their soil is warmer near the house).

Urbana, IL

Latitude: 40.1 Longitude: -88.2

Observed by: Kevin
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