Date: 04/20/1997

Number: 1

Sprouts of milkweed (E. incarnata) poked 3 inches out of the ground in my garden and were noticed yesterday (4/20) morning as the morning sun warmed the earth. I was amazed to see that all four milkweed clumps were covered with Monarch eggs. This means that in the couple of days that those milkweed sprouts have been there Monarchs (as yet unseen in Reading but reported on 4/20 thirty minutes South in Lancaster) found them in an urban setting and the desperate pregnant female found the right place to deposit her eggs. It is almost as if there was a radio signal being emitted from the milkweed which the little Monarch bugger honed in on to find the rare milkweed plant in this area. It reminds me of the movie "Field of Dreams" - build it and they will come. In this case "grow milkweed and the Monarchs will come"! I am struck by the concern voiced on this LISTSERVE about the Monarchs being in the PA area but there being no milkweed. It is quite apparent that Monatchs have

Reading, PA

Latitude: 40.4 Longitude: -75.9

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