Marvelous Milkweed

It's not a weed, but milkweeds (Asclepias) are blooming now, often with bright pink blooms that attract pollinators like butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. They are also nutritious when the parts are harvested at the right time, but if harvested too late, nausea can occur. Milkweed seeds contain cardenolides and the ground-up seeds are sometimes used as a pesticide that kills harmful nematodes and armyworms. 

The little parachutes that milkweed uses to carry the seeds far and wide are useful too. During World War II children gathered milkweed pods for the military to use to make life jackets, since floss from the Javanese kapok tree was unavailable. While the floss repels water, it also absorbs oil, so it is now used in oil-spill clean-up kits instead of chemicals. We're seeing insulated winter garments, comforters and pillows made with the floss. The seeds have beneficial qualities when pressed for their oil, rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and Vitamin E.