|
Start small. Three to five plants are all you really need to start a butterfly garden. Even a few potted plants on a balcony or patio can attract butterflies. It's best to group together each of the plants you choose. There are three basic types: plants that attract butterflies (such as lantana), plants that feed butterflies (colorful, nectar producing plants such as zinnias, marigolds, butterfly bush, daisies, and wild petunias), and plants that host butterflies (caterpillar chow such as dill, milkweed, and fennel). Provide the basics. Butterflies need the same things we all do: food, water, and shelter. The first will be supplied by your plants, but don't neglect the other two. You can create a butterfly puddle by burying a shallow dish filled with sand at ground level and making sure it stays moist. Butterflies actually need water for the minerals they can extract from it. Rocks or wood are necessary to provide places to hide from predators, but you also need to make sure to provide some spots where butterflies can bask in the sun to warm their wings for flying. At least four hours of sun each day is ideal. And make sure there's shelter from the wind, too: This can be provided by a fence or a row of trees or shrubs. Avoid pesticides. Successful butterfly gardening will require you to learn how to control garden pests without resorting to broad-spectrum pesticides. You'll need to rely on natural controls or other less toxic solutions such as insecticidal soaps. To learn more about butterfly gardening, and for a list of plants that will attract butterflies in your geographic area, consult Butterfly Gardening, available from the Sierra Club Store. More Tips Shelter Your Garden from the Wind
Allow For Water
Suggested Plants for Attracting Butterflies
Photo above courtesy Philip Greenspun. |
Butterflies make a lovely addition to any landscape, whether it's a mountain meadow or a suburban backyard, but they are extremely sensitive to environmental depradations such as deforestation and the overuse of insecticides and fertilizers. Many species have already become extinct, and many more are endangered. Fortunately, it's surprisingly easy to create a garden environment that can attract, shelter, and nurture these colorful insects, helping to ensure that future generations will enjoy their beauty.