Plant type and color are important: Adult butterflies are
attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms that are flat-topped
or clustered and have short flower tubes. They seek nectar to fuel their
transition from egg-layer to cocoon to caterpillar to butterfly again.
A Painted Lady was attracted by the
hyacinth's purplish color and short nectar tubes at Nicholas Conservatory.
Plant nectar sources in the sun. Butterflies only
feed in the sun. Choose a place that receives mid-morning to
mid-afternoon sun. Or plant nectar-rich flowers in the vegetable garden.
Outlaw insecticides. Ones like malathion, Sevin,
and diazinon were created to kill all insects. Don't use these chemicals
in or near the butterfly garden or better, anywhere on your property. Even
organic ones, such as BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), are lethal to butterflies
during the caterpillar stage.
Plant nectar sources in the sun. Butterflies only
feed in the sun. Choose a place that receives mid-morning to
mid-afternoon sun. Or plant nectar-rich flowers in the vegetable garden.
Outlaw insecticides. Ones like malathion, Sevin,
and diazinon were created to kill all insects. Don't use these chemicals
in or near the butterfly garden or better, anywhere on your property. Even
organic ones, such as BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), are lethal to butterflies
during the caterpillar stage.
My garden is pesticide-free and I let everyone know it
is. That's why I have hundreds of butterflies.
Feed butterfly caterpillars. If you don't
"grow" caterpillars, there will be no adults. Include
caterpillar
food in your garden. Doing so can greatly increase your chances
of attracting unusual and uncommon butterflies. Landscape trees like ash, black
cherry and willow are good choices, as are apple trees and blueberry
bushes. Monarchs need milkweed, though. Most butterfly caterpillars
never cause the leaf damage associated with some moth caterpillars such as
bagworms, tent caterpillars or gypsy moths.
Provide a place for rest. Butterflies need sun
for orientation and to warm their wings for flight. Place flat stones in your
garden to supply space for butterflies to rest and soak up the sun.
Give them a place for puddling. Butterflies often
gather on wet sand and mud to "puddle," drinking water and extracting
minerals from damp puddles. Make a puddle with coarse sand in a shallow
pan and place it in the soil of among the nectar-rich flowers. Make sure to
keep the sand moist.
My garden is pesticide-free and I let everyone know it
is. That's why I have hundreds of butterflies.
Feed butterfly caterpillars. If you don't
"grow" caterpillars, there will be no adults. Include
caterpillar
food in your garden. Doing so can greatly increase your chances
of attracting unusual and uncommon butterflies. Landscape trees like ash, black
cherry and willow are good choices, as are apple trees and blueberry
bushes. Monarchs need milkweed, though. Most butterfly caterpillars
never cause the leaf damage associated with some moth caterpillars such as
bagworms, tent caterpillars or gypsy moths.
Provide a place for rest. Butterflies need sun
for orientation and to warm their wings for flight. Place flat stones in your
garden to supply space for butterflies to rest and soak up the sun.
Give them a place for puddling. Butterflies often
gather on wet sand and mud to "puddle," drinking water and extracting
minerals from damp puddles. Make a puddle with coarse sand in a shallow
pan and place it in the soil of among the nectar-rich flowers. Make sure to
keep the sand moist.
These common
garden plants will
feed butterflies through all their life stages.
Aster
Bleeding heart
Buddleia (butterfly bush)
Bee balm
Butterfly weed (and other milkweeds)
Clover
Columbine
Coneflower
Delphinium
Honeysuckle
Lobelia
Penstemon
Phlox
Salvia
Weigela
Zinnia
Plant nectar sources in the sun. Butterflies only
feed in the sun. Choose a place that receives mid-morning to
mid-afternoon sun. Or plant nectar-rich flowers in the vegetable garden.
Outlaw insecticides. Ones like malathion, Sevin,
and diazinon were created to kill all insects. Don't use these chemicals
in or near the butterfly garden or better, anywhere on your property. Even
organic ones, such as BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), are lethal to butterflies
during the caterpillar stage.
My garden is pesticide-free and I let everyone know it
is. That's why I have hundreds of butterflies.
Feed butterfly caterpillars. If you don't
"grow" caterpillars, there will be no adults. Include
caterpillar
food in your garden. Doing so can greatly increase your chances
of attracting unusual and uncommon butterflies. Landscape trees like ash, black
cherry and willow are good choices, as are apple trees and blueberry
bushes. Monarchs need milkweed, though. Most butterfly caterpillars
never cause the leaf damage associated with some moth caterpillars such as
bagworms, tent caterpillars or gypsy moths.
Provide a place for rest. Butterflies need sun
for orientation and to warm their wings for flight. Place flat stones in your
garden to supply space for butterflies to rest and soak up the sun.
Give them a place for puddling. Butterflies often
gather on wet sand and mud to "puddle," drinking water and extracting
minerals from damp puddles. Make a puddle with coarse sand in a shallow
pan and place it in the soil of among the nectar-rich flowers. Make sure to
keep the sand moist.
Weather conditions were in place for a surge in the rubythroat migration last week. Over 500 reporters spotted their first hummingbird of the season. Once they arrive they may stay and raise a family. This week you're invited to peek inside a hummingbird nest and watch the tiny birds grow. 
Keep in mind a cubic yard covers 300 square feet of ground at a depth of one inch. Now grab a tape measure, calculator and get ready to do some basic math to calculate your gardening needs.