Petee

Finally, the money is on their side.

http://blog.nwf.org/2015/02/twelve-native-milkweeds-for-monarchs/
 
The leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico have passed laws this year regarding Monarchs and Milkweeds.  The city of DuBois shouldn't be harrassing people for neatly growing it in their gardens.  It's a native wildflower.

All kinds of milkweed should be cut to the ground in the fall after the first frost.  It can harbor diseases that can harm the Monarchs the following year.

http://blog.nwf.org/2015/02/twelve-native-milkweeds-for-monarchs/
 
The leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico have passed laws this year regarding Monarchs and Milkweeds.  The city of DuBois shouldn't be harrassing people for neatly growing it in their gardens.  It's a native wildflower.

White Milkweed with which Phoebe gifted me with last summer
 

Mexican (Tropical) Butterflyweed
 

You can find common milkweed along train tracks, unmowed roadsides and in farm fields.  It is a native wildflower but some people just don't get the importance of it.  
 
Why anyone would fine someone for it, but not for ragweed is a mystery to me.  Yes, Ragweed is a terrible allergen, but milkweed is not, and neither is Goldenrod.   Because they "bloom" at the same time people think the culprit is Goldenrod.  Milkweed is amazingly scented when it is in bloom, and if the city wants to be nasty, then they should fine themselves as they have it in the city park at the end of the Boulevard in the middle of the ground cover.  I saw summer workers pulling it all out over a month ago but it's back and should be left there till after the Monarch migration is done in late October.  Then they would do well to remove it for the health of the 2017 Monarchs.
 
Yes, I know a gentleman on the Eastside who was fined for having it in a marked and bordered Butterfly bed.  Just grow the other varieties and no one will even blink an eye.  The BUDS Gardeners have several varieties of it at the Plant Donation Sale in May.  
 
This is Swamp MIlkweed.  What could possibly be more beautiful?

Mexican (Tropical) Butterflyweed
 

You can find common milkweed along train tracks, unmowed roadsides and in farm fields.  It is a native wildflower but some people just don't get the importance of it.  
 
Why anyone would fine someone for it, but not for ragweed is a mystery to me.  Yes, Ragweed is a terrible allergen, but milkweed is not, and neither is Goldenrod.   Because they "bloom" at the same time people think the culprit is Goldenrod.  Milkweed is amazingly scented when it is in bloom, and if the city wants to be nasty, then they should fine themselves as they have it in the city park at the end of the Boulevard in the middle of the ground cover.  I saw summer workers pulling it all out over a month ago but it's back and should be left there till after the Monarch migration is done in late October.  Then they would do well to remove it for the health of the 2017 Monarchs.
 
Yes, I know a gentleman on the Eastside who was fined for having it in a marked and bordered Butterfly bed.  Just grow the other varieties and no one will even blink an eye.  The BUDS Gardeners have several varieties of it at the Plant Donation Sale in May.  
 
This is Swamp MIlkweed.  What could possibly be more beautiful?

We are going to try to collect as many milkweed seeds as possible this fall for planting in the early spring.  When you see the plants forming the

Excellent information!!
 
Goldenrod is a Pennsylvania native perennial.  Unless you lay under the plant and shake it, the pollen isn't going to get near you.  Now, that said, very tall species of Goldenrod, some 5 feet tall, can reach you if you're out in a field.  The pollen is very heavy and sinks rapidly to the ground.
 
It's a very important nectar source for insects and it's truly beautiful if you haven't been trained to automatically hate it.  
 
If you have allergies in the same season that Goldenrod blooms, then check out Ragweed.  Now that's some thing to run from.  http://acaai.org/allergies/types/ragweed-allergy  In the link it will tell you what else is linked with the same allergy.

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank,  ....  You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet?  What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago?   I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.
 
St. FRANCIS:
   It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
 
GOD:
   Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
 
GOD:
   The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
   Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.
 
GOD:
   They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS:
   Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
 
GOD:
   They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
 
GOD:
   Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   Yes, Sir.
 
GOD:
   These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.
 
GOD:
   What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a
natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS:
   You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.
 
GOD:
   No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.
 
GOD:
   And where do they get this mulch?
 
ST. FRANCIS:
   They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
 
GOD:
   Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE:
   'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a story about.... 
 
GOD:
   Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
 

The Monarch Hatching Shade House will be going up tomorrow for Monarch eggs and caterpillars.   Releases (at 4 pm) will occur in about 2 weeks, and each butterfly will be tagged with a University of Kansas sticker.  Roadside signs will be up when mature butterflies are ready for the daily release.  500 tags are ordered for this year so please help fill that quota.  
 
If you would be willing to search for eggs and cats, please let us know and you will be added into the process.  About 20 or more were collected this evening and they can be seen at Charlie's Alternators after tomorrow.
 
Also, if you have loads of milkweed then you can volunteer to donate a specific number of stems on certain days.  We have to know ahead of time before it is brought.  Monarchs can be brought at any time. There will be a specific place to leave them so they can be correctly added to the Shade House.
 
For more information please contact Cheryl at 371-3322 or e-mail cshenkle@verizon.net
 
Be careful in that area because sidewalk construction is beginning.  Releases will happen at the rear of Charlie's this year.

The Monarch Hatching Shade House will be going up tomorrow for Monarch eggs and caterpillars.   Releases (at 4 pm) will occur in about 2 weeks, and each butterfly will be tagged with a University of Kansas sticker.  Roadside signs will be up when mature butterflies are ready for the daily release.  500 tags are ordered for this year so please help fill that quota.  
 
If you would be willing to search for eggs and cats, please let us know and you will be added into the process.  About 20 or more were collected this evening and they can be seen at Charlie's Alternators after tomorrow.
 
Also, if you have loads of milkweed then you can volunteer to donate a specific number of stems on certain days.  We have to know ahead of time before it is brought.  Monarchs can be brought at any time. There will be a specific place to leave them so they can be correctly added to the Shade House.
 
For more information please contact Cheryl at 371-3322 or e-mail cshenkle@verizon.net
 
Be careful in that area because sidewalk construction is beginning.  Releases will happen at the rear of Charlie's this year.

Congratulations on the group effort.  That's what it took to get it fixed up and it shows.

The BUDS Gardeners will be releasing Monarchs most days at 3:45 from now for the next couple of weeks at Charlie's Alternators.  Bring the kids, bring your Mom if you are a kid!  Come and borrow a kit to raise your own as the native Monarchs will be arriving any day.
 
Look for the sign at curbside to see if there will be a release that day or just show up to see.
 
For more information contact Cheryl at cshenkle@verizon.net or call 371-3322.