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