This forum is up and running, so all are welcome to visit. I'm going to let this post drift down now.

Martha

Thanks so much Martha for the gentle reminder. I have been remiss since the MILKWEED FORUM got started with the help of several forum members. I had emergency back surgery in December and have spent most of this cold and miserable winter inside. I have conducted 3 milkweed seed cleaning workshops where we have cleaned in excess of 10,000 milkweed seed for distribution to local growers here in the Carolinas to help enhance gardens for the Monarchs and other species of butterflies. The volunteers were all members of our local chapter of the NC Native Plant Society and we spent 3 days engulfed in milkweed fluff- with the accompanying coughing and sneezing. It was still lots of fun for what we all feel is a much needed endeavor to help the butterflies. I'm attaching a photo from the workshop and also a cartoon from a few years ago that seems very appropriate for our group.
Happy Milkweed season- Mark

Now here is the cartoon mentioned in the previous message. I can't ever figure how to send two or more photos in the same message.

Mark,
What method did your group use to separate the seeds from the fluff? I cleaned more seed last fall than I care to remember, and got pretty good at keeping the fluff under control, as long as the pod wasn't completely split and spilling already. I contacted Monarch Watch to see if they had any mechanical method, but they find that hand separating is not much different as far as efficiency goes. Just curious how you managed it. I'm sure I'll be at it again before I know it.

Martha