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Gardening For
Butterflies
Butterflies go where they please so it is important to create an
attractive environment to lure them to your garden. A butterfly
friendly environment requires plenty of sunshine, shelter from
the wind, a reliable nectar source, host plants for caterpillars
and egg laying, water, and protection from danger of predators.
Follow these simple guidelines:
1. Select a full sun or half-day sun location with good, well-drained
soil.
2. Note which butterflies you want to attract and determine which
plants they find most attractive for food or nectar.
3. The time of flowering, duration of bloom, flower color, and
plant size are all important considerations when selecting plants
to attract butterflies. Plant a variety of perennials, annuals
and grasses of different heights, flower color, and season of bloom
to provide nectar for butterflies throughout the growing season.
Small, tubular flowers attract a variety of butterflies. Plants
with clusters of flowers are often better than plants with small
single flowers because it is easier for butterflies to land on
clustered or larger flowers. In addition to color and shape, the
fragrance of the flowers also can help draw butterflies to the
garden. Flowers with the heaviest perfume are most appealing to
the butterflies' sensitive sense of smell. Don't overlook wildflowers
and other native plants. You should also use annuals and perennials
such as milkweed and grasses that are a food source for caterpillars.
4. Plant shrubs, vines and trees near the garden area to provide
cover for the butterflies. Where possible, use plants that are
also a food source for larva (caterpillars). Examples are: pipevine,
birch, hackberry, hawthorn, willow, dogwood, plum, oak and pawpaw.
5. Butterflies need moist soil from which to drink. A pot-saucer
filled with moist sand will serve as a water source for butterflies.
Place a few smooth stones on the sand to serve as a landing platform.
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