Monarch Waystation

The plant on the left is common milkweed (asclepias syriaca), a host plant of the monarch butterfly.  Behind the milkweed is a butterfly bush (buddlea) and to the right are coneflowers (echinacea).  Monarchs will only lay eggs on milkweed (any variety) and when the eggs hatch, the caterpillars feed on the leaves.

 Female monarch nectaring on butterfly bush

Monarch caterpillars feeding on common milkweed