(and Why It Reveals Everything Wrong with the Current “Anti-Curassavica Crusade” in Florida) In early December 2025 I received an email that has unfortunately become all too common. A well-meaning gardener in Florida wrote to inform me that “tropical milkweed seeds” (Asclepias curassavica) had somehow contaminated the native milkweed seeds […]
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Plant to Restore, Not to Decorate
Every spring, the big box stores roll out a rainbow of seedlings under fluorescent lights: petunias, marigolds, zinnias, and “pollinator blends” designed to catch your eye. They’re planted in tight rows, surrounded by mulch dyed red and black, and watered by timer. The neighbors compliment the blooms. The yard wins […]
Misidentification of Swallowtails in the Absence of Host Plants: A Case Study from the Lake Wales Ridge
In the world of citizen science and digital naturalism, there’s a growing reliance on photographic evidence for species identification. Platforms like iNaturalist have democratized biodiversity data collection, but they’ve also opened the door to misidentification when context is ignored—especially ecological context. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the frequent […]
Creating an Ecological Haven for Warblers: A Gardener’s Guide
By Johnny Butterflyseed Florida is home to a dazzling variety of Warblers—small, energetic songbirds that rely on healthy, interconnected ecosystems to thrive. While these birds are often associated with forests and wetlands, gardeners and landscapers have a unique opportunity to create an ecological space that supports warblers year-round. By planting […]
Why Florida’s “Dollarweed” Deserves a New Name: Meet the Butterflies that Call Hydrocotyle Home
By Johnny Butterflyseed If you’ve spent any time tending a Florida lawn or garden, you’ve likely come across Dollarweed (Hydrocotyle spp.). With its round, shiny leaves resembling silver dollars, it’s often labeled as a nuisance—sprayed, pulled, and cursed. But what if this so-called “weed” is actually a vital part of […]
The Truth About Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica): A Florida-Native Species Worth Understanding
Let’s be clear: Tropical Milkweed is indeed a Florida-native species within USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10 and above.
Research-Grade Protocols for Germinating Olive Seeds (Olea europaea)
If you’ve ever tried to germinate olive tree seeds, you probably understand why most olive “seedlings” sold online are actually propagated from stem cuttings. Olive seed germination is notoriously difficult, thanks to a complex dormancy mechanism and a hard, water-resistant endocarp that protects the seed within. This isn’t a process […]
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
Whorled Milkweed is one of the many varieties of milkweed that are critical to the survival of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).