There's a native perennial that grows at the fringe of the orchard, out there with the wild raspberries and goldenrod.
It intrigued me as a child. I'd search its leaves for a plump black and yellow caterpillar, that I'd raise (in a mayonnaise jar) to an adult monarch butterfly. My fingers became sticky from the plant's opaque white sap.
As an adult, I appreciate its waxy rose-pink blossoms in July. These give way to big puffy seed pods. Split one of those pods open. This month, you'll reveal a dense packet of tan seeds, arranged like fish-scales. Each seed is attached to a cluster of moist silky threads. Next month, the pods will crack open, the threads will dry, and carry the seeds away in a breeze.
Sounds pretty magical, doesn't it? Well, it is. But the Heirloom Orchardist was a practical sort. When he came upon the Common Milkweed, he tried to find uses for this interesting plant. Consider the account given by General Henry Dearborn, who died in 1829, while residing in Roxbury, Massachusetts. His comments were published in the Massachusetts Horticultural Register sometime during the late 1820's, and reprinted in 1835 in the Yankee Farmer:
"The silk, when taken from the pods, and being freed from the seed, is hung up in thin bags in the sun, and when perfectly dry may be used without any further preparation, instead of feathers, horse hair, wool or cotton, for cushions, bolsters, pillows, mattresses; and coverlets. From eight to nine pounds is sufficient for a bed, bolster, and two pillows. It is lighter and warmer, when used in forming coverlets comforters than cotton, or wool, and nearly equal to eider down."
The problem, I suppose, was gathering the stuff. One could put a lot of work into growing and harvesting milkweed silk, and end up with only a handful of sticky fluff. So, I go back to the aesthetics. This curious little drawing entitled "Milkweed in the Garden" shows up in my 1936 issue of the "New Garden Encylopedia". It displays the caption: "This common roadside plant can be brought into the wild garden or border to create striking mass effects."
So there you have it. When practicality cannot be found, there's always beauty. And milkweed, a perennial, is very easy to grow. Consider these two varieties for the sunny, moist areas of your "wild garden" or perennial border:
Cinderella Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata 'cinderella')
This leafy perennial matures at about 3-4 feet. It has an upright spreading habit. The beautiful pink flowers are fragrant, and reminiscent of vanilla. They're excellent for cutting. It's good to combine this plant in the garden near another having a finer texture. It is native to moist soils, but like its cousin (the common milkweed described above) it'll adapt to average garden soil moisture conditions.
Usually growing 18"-24" high, Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa interior) attracts numerous butterfly species for nectaring. In late June through July you’ll find bright clusters of orange flowers adorning this plant. Unlike Cinderella Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed must be planted in a soil that provides excellent drainage. Also be aware of its taproot. Where you plant it, is where it should stay. Deer resistant. It’s also known also as “Pleurisy Root.”
