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Butterflies All A
Flutter Resources |
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| What I learned about
butterflies: |
- Not all butterflies have the same taste. The
preference for nectar differs from species to species of butterflies. have different
preferences of nectar, in both colors and tastes. A wide variety of food plants will give
the greatest diversity of visitors. Try staggering wild and cultivated plants, as well as
blooming times of the day and year. Groups of the same plants will be easier for
butterflies to see than singly planted flowers.
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- Planting a butterfly garden can help increase the
butterfly population. It certainly increases the drama in the garden.
Butterflies are cold blooded and fly only when temperatures rise above 60 degrees
Fahrenheit. For best results, plant your butterfly garden in full sun and plant the
tallest flowers behind the shorter ones
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- I am organic gardener. I haven't used pesticides
in years. It is sad that those who do use chemical pesticides are inadvertently
killing butterflies. I want to create a butterfly garden in 2008 to create an
inviting habitat for these beautiful creatures.
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- Most butterflies will be attracted to damp sand or wet
gravel. Mostly males seek out these damp, slightly salty areas.
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- These beautiful creatures like to bask in the sun.
Putting out a shallow bowl with a few stones in the middle and a small amount of water,
satisfies their thirst and provides a place for basking in the sun.
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- Many different butterflies can be attracted to the same
garden. For example, some prefer larger flowers and others prefer small flowers.
Skippers seem to like purple flowers, and some hairstreaks tend to attracted toke white
flowers.
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- Because butterflies are present from early spring to
late fall, you'll want a procession of flowers for use as butterfly feeding stations
throughout the year.
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- As adults, butterflies consume flower nectar.
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- If I plan to have a butterfly garden, I have to accept
that caterpillars will eat some of the plants. Unlike moth caterpillars, butterfly
caterpillars eat only specific plants and do very little harm to them.
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- You don't need a big garden to attract butterflies.
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- Most garden insecticides can kill the caterpillar stages
of the insects. Adult butterflies also can be killed by resting on insecticide-treated
surfaces.
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- Control European paper wasp because they prey on painted
lady and other butterfly larvae.
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- Most butterflies prefer some shelter from the high winds
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- Create a large patch of flowers and plan the varieties
so that some bloom in the spring, some in summer and some in fall. Vary the height of
plants to suit the feeding habits of various butterflies. Leave an open area where they
can fly and also be protected from gusty winds.
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- Lilacs, rabbitbush, willow, aspen and cottonwood are
also good for caterpillar and adult butterfly stages. Dill, parsley, and fennel attract
black swallowtails. Butterfly weed and other milkweed family plants will attract monarchs.
Sunflowers, thistles, and hollyhocks provide food for a variety of butterfly larva. As
nectar supply for adult butterflies, plant asters, bee balm (monarda), cosmos, gaillardia,
marigolds, verbena, sweet peas and zinnia. Butterfly bush and clematis are good
attractants, too.
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- Butterflies and seed-eating birds enjoy most
Composite Family
-- including chrysanthemum, yarrow, coreopsis, sunflower, dahlia, zinnia, goldenrod,
aster, cosmos, and Black-eyed Susan. In addition, scabiosa, bachelor's-button,
poppies, aster, coreopsis, liatris, sedums, zinnias, goldenrod, yarrows and globethistle
all attract birds and butterflies. Butterflies especially enjoy milkweed, monarda,
primrose, butterfly bush and verbena. To attract hummingbirds, try adding these plants to
your garden: penstemons, salvias, honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, dianthus, columbines,
hyssop, scarlet gilia, paintbrushes and yucca.
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- In addition to feasting on nectar, butterflies also like
overripe bananas.
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