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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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