Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I take you back to the very beginning—the moment I first encountered milkweed and unknowingly stepped into a lifelong fascination with its role in nature.

Growing up, summers at my grandparents’ farm in northern Ohio were filled with adventure. My brother and I spent our days chasing kittens, gathering eggs, and riding tractors through the soybean fields. But one task stood out—pulling milkweed. At the time, I saw it as nothing more than an invasive weed, something my grandfather wanted gone. I had no idea that years later, I would come to appreciate its vital connection to monarch butterflies.

In this episode, I reflect on those childhood summers, the lessons learned from my grandparents, and the unexpected ways in which milkweed became a symbol of resilience, transformation, and interconnectedness.

Join me as I explore the deeper meaning behind the milkweed-monarch relationship and how it mirrors the connections we share with the people who shape our lives.