How to Create a Butterfly Garden

It is easy to create or convert your garden into a private retreat for native butterflies.

Your Butterfly Garden can be as elaborate or as simply as your space will allow.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Butterflies use plants during each stage of their life cycle - egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult (butterfly). A butterfly garden that includes plants for the entire life cycle will attract the greatest number and variety of native butterflies.
   * Flowers provide a good source of nectar to attract the adults. When a butterfly detects something sweet, it will extend its coiled proboscis and probe into the flower for nectar.
   * It is important when choosing plants to select a variety that will bloom at different times of the season to make your garden more attractive to a wider assortment of butterflies.
   * Plant the flowers in clusters of each species and create a garden that includes several different colors and flower heights. Clusters of flowers are easier for the butterflies to locate than individual plants.
   * A mixture of annuals, perennials and biennials will allow you to experiment with different flower combinations each year as you discover which species work best for your area.

2. Most caterpillars are specific about the plants they feed on, and female butterflies will only lay their eggs on the caterpillar food plants. Since you cannot have butterflies without caterpillars, be sure to provide a variety of caterpillar food plants to meet the needs of the species in your area.
   * Some plants, like milkweed and alfalfa, provide both nectar for adults and food for many species of caterpillar.
   * Another important aspect of butterfly gardening is the need to provide sources of shelter for the butterflies. Tall trees can provide a place for butterflies to roost at night or during cloudy weather (willows, ash, and chokecherry are also caterpillar food plants for some species). Or, try a butterfly house.
   * Plant your garden in a sunny place to increase blooming, and provide rocks for butterflies to bask in the sun. Butterflies bask to heat up their wing muscles for flight.

3. 
   Butterfly Feeder

   Most importantly, you will want to know which plants will attract butterflies to your area of the country. Click on the "resource link" below to see which plants you should use in your garden design.
   
   To view hand blown glass butterfly dishes and fun butterfly houses, visit www.gardenartisans.us.
   
   By clicking on the resource link below, you will be taken to a page listing plants for each area of the United States.

Tips & Warnings

• Did you know butterflies are especially attracted to the color purple?
• Most Important: DO NOT USE PESTICIDES in or near your garden.

Resources

• http://www.gardenartisans.us/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2

[gartengrl]

on 5/21/2009 I've heard it is also important not to spray pesticide all over the garden...cool article! Thanks!