| Garden And Butterfly | | | | attract more of them if you follow a few simple |
| Butterfly gardening has become popular, both to | | | | basics, Butterflies love to eat nectar. Use several of |
| attract the beautiful travelers and to help preserve | | | | these nectar-producing plants to attract them: |
| species of butterflies that were dwindling due to | | | | milkweed, azalea, goldenrod, black-eyed susan, zinnia, |
| human encroachment into their natural habitats. | | | | aster, phlox, Japanese honeysuckle, ironweed. A few |
| Butterflies love sunlight! Whether you choose to plant | | | | nectar-producing shrubs are butterfly bush, various |
| a traditional garden or a container garden, make sure | | | | fruit trees, privet, lilac and redbud. |
| thatthe plants are in direct sunlight for much of the | | | | Butterflies will flock to large expanses of flowers in |
| day. | | | | similar colors that bloom at the same time rather than |
| If you're planning a butterfly garden, it's important to | | | | to single plants with just a few blooms. A carpet of |
| keep in mind that there is no one recipe for a | | | | violets, a sea of buttercups or a wide open field full |
| successful garden. Butterflies like to "puddle." Your | | | | of Queen Anne's Lace is sure to be visited by |
| garden needs a sort of watering hole for the | | | | dozens of butterflies. Butterflies like lots of color! |
| butterflies to drink from. This can be done by simply | | | | Group clusters of the same plant together to make |
| filling a terra cotta pot or small plastic bucket with | | | | them easier for butterflies to see. A group of colorful |
| small rocks or pebbles about two inches from the | | | | flowers attracts them easier thansingle flowers. |
| brim. Butterfly species that are indigenous to | | | | Butterfly gardens need to provide both sun and |
| different areas are attracted to different types of | | | | shade. |
| plants. In order to foster butterflies, you'll need to | | | | Like all insects, butterflies are cold-blooded creatures. |
| know the butterfly species that are found in your | | | | They thrive on warm sun, and will bask on flat rocks |
| area, and provide them with plants that are favored | | | | or perch for long minutes on the branches of a high |
| food sources for adult butterflies as well as those | | | | bush in the sunlight. At the same time, they need |
| plants that they prefer for laying their eggs and | | | | shade and shelter when the sun is too hot, or on |
| nourishing larva. | | | | cool, cloudy days. An area that gets bright sun for at |
| Add water to fill the remaining space. Place the | | | | least 4-6 hours per day is the best spot for a |
| puddle in the center of your garden, some standards | | | | butterfly garden, but don't forget to include |
| that apply to all butterfly gardens. Wherever you live | | | | landscaping details that offer shade. |
| and whatever butterflies you hope to attract, you'll | | | | |