This week’s showers are stimulating all kinds of plant growth and development. Some are producing showy, bright blooms now while others will be blooming later.

Some of these plants are critically important to specific insects. Without the host plants these insects will disappear from the environment.

One of the most well-known and brilliantly decorated is the monarch butterfly. Its larvae are dependent upon milkweed, a native plant.

Milkweed has become much scarcer as land is developed, but there is hope for continuation of these luminous creatures. As part of the effort to restore the monarch population, packets of milkweed seed will be given away free at the UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extension Service Open House and Wakulla Master Gardener Plant.

To learn more about wildflowers and butterflies, come to the UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extension Service Open House and Wakulla Master Gardener Plant sale on April 2, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

See the vegetable garden demonstration, the native plant display, family and consumer sciences presentations, and 4-H club projects. Master Gardeners will be selling plants they have grown.

This event is free and open to the public. The address is 84 Cedar Avenue in Crawfordville and there is plenty of parking.

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