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