Stop by, butterflies
It's no wonder butterfly gardens have become so popular. If you provide a working habitat, butterflies will gladly grace your acreage, giving you endless viewing pleasure.
Have you ever taken a moment to really watch a butterfly? They are such fun, beautiful insects. They're usually passing through in mid- to late summer when it's really hot outside.
They can be found fluttering around puddles and blooming flowers, trying out all the different flavors. It's no wonder butterfly gardens have become so popular. If you provide a working habitat, butterflies will gladly grace your acreage, giving you endless viewing pleasure.
So, just how do you make a garden butterfly-friendly? Doug Jimerson, garden editor with Better Homes and Gardens magazine, provides some insight. "You need to grow plants that caterpillars like to eat and plants that adult butterflies feed on," he says. "You should select a variety of nectar-producing plants and blooming flowers all season. Especially in mid- to late summer when butterflies are the most active."
These plants include popular buddleias such as the butterfly bush and the peacock. "They're full of nectar," says Jimerson. "The whole buddleia family is attractive to butterflies." And the peacock, unlike most buddleias that flop all over the place, stands very upright, working well in your garden. "I like the peacock because it's more compact. So if you have a small space, it's perfect," he says.
"Another plant, cosmos, is a very common, old-fashioned plant, and a lot of country gardens have it," Jimerson says. Its nice big landing surface allows the adults easy access, making it a very popular option with the butterflies.
"What's really nice about these three (butterfly bush, peacock, and cosmos) is that they really come into their own in late summer, and that's when the monarchs are migrating through," Jimerson says. "All types of butterflies are attracted. But when the monarchs come through, you really want to be ready for them. These plants will just be covered."
While adult butterflies will eat most any plant providing nectar, larvae are very specific in the plants they feed on. That's why adult butterflies only lay their eggs on plants they know the larvae will need to survive. Monarch larvae, for example, only eat milkweed.
Comments
Comments ( 0 )Add your comment
