Photo by BJ Lecrone

The annual Loudoun Wildlife Milkweed Sale with the Leesburg branch of the Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) was a success despite starting with overcast skies and drizzle in the morning. Over 550 plants were sold in advance through our online store with an additional 120 plants sold onsite.

This year we offered Butterfly Weed, Common Milkweed and Swamp Milkweed. The Butterfly Weed was the most popular and sold out through advance purchases. Swamp Milkweed proved to be the second most popular with Common Milkweed taking third place.

We are excited to have so many new milkweed plants going into local gardens. Milkweed plants are like a village. They are essential to the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly because milkweed is the only plant their caterpillars can eat. It also attracts many pollinators and other specialist insects.

Many thanks to NWFCU for continuing to partner with us to help raise awareness of the important role milkweed plays in the lives of not only Monarchs but all pollinators. We would also like to thank Watermark Woods native plant nursery for helping us attain all the plants and, last but not least, many thanks to all the Loudoun Wildlife and NWFCU volunteers that helped make this sale a success.