Q. My nectar producing plants were basically flattened by the freezes in February. Do you have any ideas about meeting the needs of the Monarchs and other pollinators for nectar this spring? Is there any chance that the usual nectar sources such as milkweed and mistflower will recover in time?

A. I am afraid that not only will the milkweed and mistflower be slow to recover, but many of the plants in our landscapes will not recover from the freeze. Watch for the availability of any mistflower and milkweed transplants in area nurseries. The wildflowers seemed to fare okay in the freeze so if you had blue curl, larkspur, coreopsis, and poppies that are naturalized, they should help with meeting the need for nectar. Another excellent source is zinnias. Plant zinnias by seed and obtain available transplants as they become available in area nurseries. 

Calvin Finch is a retired horticulture agent in Bexar County. He writes for and works with a number of area media outlets.

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