Blooming Showy Milkweed In The Wasatch Mountains

Showy Milkweed blooming in Summit County – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I missed out on photographing Showy Milkweed in bloom in the lower elevations of northern Utah but not at the higher elevations of the Wasatch Mountains. Some wildflowers bloom later at higher elevations and fortunately for me these milkweeds are among them.

This photo was taken yesterday morning in Summit County where a clump of Showy Milkweeds were blooming next to a dirt road. I noticed the Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) while I was photographing the milkweed.

Blooming Showy Milkweed and small butterflies – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Further down the road in Morgan County I found another clump of Showy Milkweed in bloom and noticed a small butterfly on the lower section of one of the spherical clusters of flowers but didn’t see that there were actually two of them. I believe that these are Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula) butterflies but now I wish I had walked over to the plant and looked at the butterflies from a closer perspective. Next time I am in the area I am going to look for the butterflies on the milkweed and if they are there attempt to get better photos of them.

Showy Milkweed in bloom in Morgan County – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Showy Milkweeds are also known as showy butterfly weed, creek milkweed, and Greek milkweed. These milkweeds are perennial wildflowers that are native to the western half of the U.S. and parts of Canada. Milkweeds (Asclepias spp) are the only larval host plants for Monarch butterflies whose populations are in steep decline. Showy Milkweed and other species of native milkweeds are important food sources for our native butterflies, insects and hummingbirds.

Life is good.

Mia

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