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Butterflies All A
Flitter Resources |
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| Simple Steps
in Planning a Butterfly Garden: |
- Even before selecting the location for the garden, do
some research. Discover which butterflies were native in my area. (No reason to
put in plants that attract butterflies that don't live around here, right?)
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- Choose your site carefully. Butterflies need sunshine
for both warmth and navigation. So find a sunny spot that can also provide a little
shelter from wind. Certainly pick a spot where you can enjoy the butterfly garden.
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- Butterflies enjoy mud puddles and areas for basking. Be
a joyfully gardener and create a small wet area. Simply burying a container filled with
sand. Add water regularly to keep the sand damp.
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- Provide areas where butterflies can bask in the sun. The
easiest method is to place rocks in sunny areas. The sun heats the rocks and when the
butterfly lands on the rock it is warmed.
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- Plant a wide variety of plants to attract a variety of
butterflies being careful to include some to meet the needs of each stage of the
butterflies life cycle. The variety of plants add to the natural beauty of the
garden. You must provide food (host plants) for the caterpillars and not just pretty
flowers (nectar plants) for the adults.
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- Provide water for the butterfly to drink.
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- Now you are ready to design a suitable butterfly
habitat. An informal, natural design is most conducive for butterfly garden. A quick
& easy design is to put woody play on the outside perimeter. Small shrubs and flowering
perennials are likely plant selections. Keep the center as a sunny, open space. You
can place your mud puddles & rocks here.
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- Provide food of the butterflies. Adult
butterflies rely on flower nectar for nutrition. They tend to be attracted colorful,
fragrant, tubular blossom. A butterfly garden, ideally, will have continuous blossoms.
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- Even though butterflies look delicate, they are really
pretty hardy creatures. It is still good to give them some protection against the
elements and predators. Consider adding a section of fence covered with flowering
vines to create a windbreak or much appreciated hiding spot during weather extremes.
Groundcovers may be hiding spots for vulnerable pupae and larvae.
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- Butterflies need a nursery. Discover what plants in your
area provide sites for egg-laying and larval food sources. With these plants
available, butterflies will stay longer in your garden. Remember each species of
butterfly prefers different plants on which to lays its eggs - so make your list and check
it twice. Your local Extension Center can help you.
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- Certainly don't use pesticides in your butterfly garden.
But you already figured that out, right?
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- Put out your "Welcome Butterflies" sign, you are ready
for business.
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