powdery mildew remedy

It's too late in the season for me to try this but I will definitely try it next year.  A natural remedy I read about today for powdery mildew is to mix 1 part milk with 9 parts water and spray your plants.  Repeat after each rainfall.  My zucchini and phlox plants get hit every year with powdery mildew and they look terrible.  Has anyone tried it?

Missing the monarchs

Has anyone had monarch butterflies in their gardens this year? I've only seen one - so sad.  I enjoy watching them flit around my butterfly bushes but there are  none to be seen this year.  I know there are studies being done to find out why they are missing.  I have a lot of milkweed in my yard, but if they can't find any between here and Mexico, then what good will it do?  I hope they can recover and come back next year.

Mystery plant - Is this Velvetleaf?

My friend's mother had this plant come up in her yard this year. It isn't anything she planted. I searched my North America Wildflower Guide and the closest plant I found is velvetleaf.  Is anyone familiar with that plant and does this look like it?  Is it common to just appear in your yard? Maybe the birds drop the seeds. I've never seen or heard of it before.