One of the moments I watch for every spring is the return of milkweed. The first shoots usually appear quietly in the pollinator garden after a few warmer days. At first they look small and fragile, yet milkweed plays one of the most important roles in the prairie ecosystem. Monarch butterflies depend entirely on milkweed plants for raising their young. Female monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed leaves, and the caterpillars feed exclusively on the plant as they grow. Seeing those first leaves emerge always feels significant.
Over the coming weeks the plants will grow taller and begin attracting not only monarchs but many other insects that depend on milkweed flowers for nectar. Spring in the garden is full of moments like this. Small changes appear day by day, gradually building toward the vibrant activity of summer. Watching milkweed return each year reminds me how closely prairie landscapes and pollinators are connected.