How to Make Plans for Building a Butterfly House

Traveling butterflies need a place where they can rest their weary wings. Build a butterfly house that will protect these winged beauties from wind, rain, cats and birds. Make plans for your butterfly house before you begin building. Place your butterfly house in a garden that has plenty of bushes and flowers that will attract the butterflies to your yard.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Straight edge

1. Plan to make the butterfly house approximately 6 inches wide by 15 inches tall. Design the house so that the pieces can be cut out of one or two pieces of wood that are 1 inch by 6 inches by 10 feet, for the least amount of cutting.

2. Design the roof of the butterfly house to have a slant. Make the roof slanted to keep water out of the house and keep the butterflies dry during inclement weather.

3. Include a way for the butterflies to enter the house without birds being able to get in. Plan to cut several slits in the front of the house that are approximately 3 inches long by 1/2 inch wide. Build the front of the house out of slats to avoid making awkward cuts in the wood.

4. Make an area in the plans to include a large piece of tree bark for the butterflies to rest on. Plan to put a round stick in the center of the house or to secure tree bark to one of the walls.

5. Pick a way to mount the butterfly house in the yard. Choose from attaching the house to an existing structure, such as your house or fence, or mounting the house on a wood pole to plant in the garden.