Sadly, we seem to be a bit off the natural migration route here in GA.
So... Even though I plant all the milkweed varieties that I can get my hands on, I don't often host monarch populations.
When I have them though, it's fun.
Here's the juvenile form of the gulf fritillary.
Re milkweeds....
What specific types have you tried?
If you avoid mowing, I'd totally expect you to start seeing natural populations of milkweeds.
I try to spot my milkweeds, and protect them... Unfortunately the deer and rabbits eat butterflyweed, and when I plant it in the veggie garden, sometimes the voles eradicate entire stands of it.
Growing naturally on my property, I've spotted both yellow flowering and orange flowering asclepias tuberosa, also whorled milkweed, and asclepias amplexicaule.
I've brought in several mateleas, and even tropical milkweed (which died in my dry sand) and common milkweed, which barely grows.
So... Not surprising that you're having a bit of difficulty getting milkweed to grow in GA.
Try purchasing asclepias tuberosa seed... Probably the easiest to grow from seed in our conditions. I have better luck planting it in the veggie garden....it doesn't grow if I treat it like a weed...
