Butterfly Gardening

"To make a wish come true, whisper it to a butterfly.
Upon these wings it will be taken to heaven and granted.
For they are the messengers of the Great Spirit."
~ Native American Legend ~

Here are some basic principles for planning and planting a butterfly garden.

Grow lots of Nectar Plants.  The main food of adult butterflies is nectar from flowers.  Certain flowers are more appealing to butterflies than others.  On this site you will find a list of the ten most popular nectar plants. When planting flowers, group them together and they will be more enticing to butterflies.  Given a choice among equally pleasing appealing flowers, butterflies usually choose those that are most abundant.  Be sure that your garden offers nectaring flowers throughout the blooming season so that butterflies can always find food.  Also have nectaring plants of various heights, for small species of butterflies often stay low, while larger species often prefer to stay high when feeding.  From a butterfly's point of view, you cannot have too many flowers.  If acquiring lots of plants seems expensive, consider growing your plants from seed.  Another good trick is to find a friend who is dividing his or her perennials in spring, and see if he or she will give you some of the divisions. 

Choose a Sunny Location.  Sun is extremely important for both butterflies and flowers.  Butterflies need sun to keep their bodies warm enough so they can fly.  Only when their body temperature is 85-100°F can they fly well.  When the air temperature is cooler than this, they bask in the sun they warm themselves to effective flight temperature.  You can help your butterflies by providing rocks or evergreens in garden in spots that get sun early in the day.  The rocks or evergreens will absorb the heat from the sun, and the butterflies can perch or them to bask, warm up , and start flying earlier.  Many perennials and other larval food plants grow best in full sun.  The amount of nectar production can be determined by the amount of light they receive. 

Provide Shelter.

1. Good Placement.

Butterflies are cold blooded creatures and need the sun to warm their wings. For this reason, they prefer a sunny site that is protected from the wind. Large plants and shrubs around the perimeter of a garden will help to provide this protection. A large flat rock in a garden provides a warm spot for basking. They may frequently be seen just sitting on the rock, with their wings spread, soaking up the sun's rays.

2. Nectar Source.

Nectar is a sugar-rich substance that is required for energy used in flight. Therefore butterfly attracting plants include those that are sun-loving and produce nectar. It is recommended that you plant in groups of one color rather than single plants of differing colors. Select a variety of nectar producing plants to provide flowers in bloom throughout the season. It is especially important to have flowers in mid to late summer, when most butterflies are active. Annuals bloom continuously through the season and are always a good choice. They seem to prefer pink, purple, or white flowers and single flowers rather than double blooms. Supplementary nectar may be provided through small bits of fruit, such as apples, bananas, or citrus.

3. Butterfly Puddles

Butterflies also require a water supply. For this reason, it is a good idea to provide a "butterfly puddle". Butterflies will congregate at the puddle and drink the standing water to obtain necessary minerals. A container filled with water and then buried in the dirt may do the trick. Or you may prefer to just make shallow impressions in the soil and allow them to fill following a rain or watering session.

4. Reduce the Use of Pesticides

It only makes sense that if you wish to draw these creatures to your home, you must limit your use of pesticides. It is best to avoid the use of broad spectrum pesticides. Instead use spot treatments on the troubled areas. Also, consider the use of the insecticidal soaps over some of the chemical options.