Butterfly Garden

Butterflies are insects that gardeners try to attract to their gardens. While they are fluttering through the plants gathering nectar, the butterflies are also pollinating your garden.

Butterflies are cold blooded, so plant the garden in a warm, sunny area. Provide flat rocks for them to rest on, a shallow pan or pie plate filled with sand pebbles or soil, and a bit of water. Butterflies will get their feet a bit wet when drinking but won't get their entire bodies wet.

Butterflies' wings are extremely fragile, so plant near a wall or fence that will shelter your garden from wind. Also, you could plant a hedge of butterfly bushes or viburnum, which will also provide nighttime shelter for the butterflies.

To entice butterflies to your garden, plant for the caterpillars as well as the butterflies. Butterflies go through several life stages that require a specific place in your garden. A butterfly bush (Buddleia) is a great start for a garden spot. Phlox, coneflower, zinnias, sedum, lantana, and salvia are a few of the many annuals and perennials that you can add. Dill, parsley, and Queen Anne's lace will provide food for the caterpillars.

Avoid any use of pesticides in the butterfly garden, as they are deadly to the caterpillars and butterflies. They may keep away unwanted insects, but keep butterflies away as well.

A bit of research for finding appropriate plants and a bit of work to prepare the bed will be rewarded with a colorful display of these helpful insects.