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Butterflies All A Flitter Resources |
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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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