Here's a great article by the NY Times about saving the Monarch migration: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11...

Honestly, I've been thinking about this for a while, and this article has kind of spurred me on, but I think I'm going to get rid of my tropical milkweed. You know I'm a native plant supporter and I don't want to be a hypocrite or hurt the Monarchs. I gathered some wild milkweed seed from KY this fall (not sure what kind, but one of the natives). We'll see how that does here and I'll go hunt down some native FL species, too. The trick is keeping the caterpillars off of it long enough for it to get established! I learned that the hard way.

Interesting article. Thanks for it Melanie.

I don't have to worry about the Tropical Milkweed being a problem like that here. No Monarchs ever try to stay through the winter here. Much too cold!

Another peril for the Monarchs:
http://www.theecologist.org/Ne...
I suspected as much! So banning neonicotinoids would help both bees and Monarchs! Now, why can't we just DO THAT?

I found a list of garden neonicotinoid pesticides. It doesn't include nongarden products, but I know that some are used on pets also (anyone heard of Advantage, for example?)
[url=neohttp://www.beyondpesticides.org/pollinators/documents/pesticide_list_final.pdf]neohttp://www.beyondpesticides...[/url]

I found a list of garden neonicotinoid pesticides. It doesn't include nongarden products, but I know that some are used on pets also (anyone heard of Advantage, for example?)
http://www.beyondpesticides.or...

Exactly! all those pet flea medications are likely neonics....and the commercial recently that showed just killing the flea on CONTACT?!? Without even biting to consume the blood??! Oh it made me shudder in such horror...why would you make your pet poisonous to the TOUCH? Don't you and your children touch that pet way more than any insect would??!!? (sure neonics are considered very safe for mammals but STILL)

I read last week on the YardMap facebook page that some big box stores are going to have tags labeling garden plants that have been treated with Neonics. They are using misleadingly positive wording but if you know what to look for you can avoid the insect poisons.
They pointed to this article: https://bbbseed.com/category/p...

Edit: whops...we should start a new thread for the new topic! I have now done so here: The thread "SOME plants with neonicitinoids at SOME stores now labeled" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

On the Monarchs: its great to see the awareness raised! Glad people are taking actions to help and to plant the correct native milkweeds!!

Fortunately, not all pet flea/tick products are neonics. But pet owners should try to learn about any others and be wary about problems also.
http://drsophiayin.com/blog/en...

Planting milkweed is great for the Monarchs. If you have fields or areas that are never mowed that is where most milkweed grow.

I grow tropical, swamp, and common milkweed.