@Dave Your podcast on milkweeds and monarchs has inspired me to grow milkweeds. Overall, l my collection of plants are in pots. But there is a large area (of mixed grasses and weeds that is kept mowed), bordered by the driveway, street and a pond, l have been wanting to plant wildflowers in.

The pond, on the right (an't see it in this photo), overflows when there is days and days of rain. The ground dries up quickly after the rain stops. This area is dry most of the year. So, l don't think plants that need lots of damp conditions will survive this area.

Can l plant milkweeds in this area without making flowerbeds? If l cast lots of seeds will they grow? Or will the established grasses and weeds choke them out?

Eager for some butterflies, bees and other small wildlife.

I'm glad you enjoyed the podcast and that it inspired you. Others are much more familiar with how to grow these, but I can tell you I remember very well seeing milkweeds grow in pastures in East Tennessee and they seemed to grow quite nicely in competition with the pasture grasses and forbs.

If you could plant a milkweed like Asclepias asperula or Asclepias viridis away from where the pond floods much and if necessary water it until it is established, that might work. They'll have a better chance if you remove some grass. The seedlings need to get established first.

Thank you Dave and Linda.

I'll do as you suggest, Linda, and clear a patch of grass to make it easier for the new plants to get established. The grass/weed is more sparse at the far end. I'd like to get plants started there and hope they will naturalize (with a little help)

I got my milkweed seeds:



And, because i find milkweed unattractive, i got these too:



I'm planting them down the driveway, so i have a pretty entryway