How To Create A Butterfly Garden
Author: Elizabeth Jean

Creating a butterfly garden is a little different from the
standard flower garden, but that does not mean you need to be
without any favorite flowers or fragrances. Many butterfly
attractants are just as attractive to humans as they are to
butterflies. Flower gardens are already naturally attractive to
butterflies because they are always seeking sunny spaces with
brightly colored, fragrant flowers.

Where you live always has a great deal of impact on your
garden. Fortunately, when it comes to butterfly gardens, the
NABA (North American Butterfly Association) has done much of
the work for you by creating region specific brochures about
butterflies and their attractants. Take a look before planting
your garden. But here are the basics to get started.

Basking

There is almost nothing as important in attracting butterflies
to your garden than bright sunlight. Butterflies thrive on
sunlight. Butterflies are insects, and as such, they are cold
blooded and need sunlight to heat their bodies to make them
active. Just provide sunny spaces the butterflies will come to
bask.

Butterflies also like a bit of water. This is especially
important to remember in arid regions where natural sources of
standing water are hard to find. Garden fixtures, like
fountains, can provide places for butterflies when water is
scarce. Butterflies are equally pleased with sun-warmed
stepping-stones and little patches of run-off water than might
remain around your garden or on a walkway.

Waterfalls really attract butterflies, the light sprinkle of
water that lands on stone and dirt a bit away is ideal for
basking butterflies as it allows them to warm their bodies and
receive nourishment from mineral deposits within the water. Use
a tall, decorative waterfall as a backdrop for a butterfly
garden with a reasonable amount of space around it or use a
smaller, more delicate water source like a watering can
fountain in a tighter space. Watering can Fountains:
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Try to arrange your garden in a very bright area of your yard.
It is generally recommended that any area that you are thinking
of placing a butterfly garden in should get at least 6 hours of
direct sunlight a day. If possible, enhance basking options for
your butterflies with various pieces of garden statuary like an
elegant birdbath. For birdbaths, visit:
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Eating

Nectar is a major attractant for butterflies. Plant your
highest nectar sources in the brightest sunlight since most
butterflies only feed in the sun. Depending on where you live
there are certain flowers that will help attract specific
species. There are a few general hints available.

Butterflies are attracted to especially bright colors, and
large patches of bright colors are more likely to catch their
eye. Try planting clumps of vivid pink, red, orange and yellow
flowers that will stand out in a sunny place.

Butterflies are also commonly fond of flowers with flat tops
and relatively shallow throats. Butterflies reach into a flower
to get at the nectar so flowers with shallow throats are easier
for them.

A few specifics

Butterfly bush is an aptly named deciduous shrub and grows
easily in many climates. There are quite a few varieties of
Butterfly bush. It grows on long arching stems and produces
clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers (rather like lilac). They
flower in a wide range of bright colors and are relatively easy
to grow.

If your soil is a little dry, Butterfly weed, also known as
milkweed, will probably grow well and do much to attract a
variety of butterflies. Most butterfly weed blooms late in the
summer and is between one and three feet high. The perennial
has red, orange and yellow flowers. Butterfly weed is also a
host plant for several kinds of butterflies.

Growing

While you may be thinking that you can't "grow" butterflies as
you do flowers, you can grow the foods that feed caterpillars,
which will then make your garden their home.

Host plants are essential to a butterfly garden if you are
hoping to do more than just attract those that happen to be
near. Many butterflies have short lives, so if you want your
garden to be a flutter with them, the best bet is to help them
grow yourself.

The previously mentioned butterfly weed is one of the most
common host plants for monarch butterflies. Many of the plants
that are the best host plants for butterflies are weeds, like
Queen Anne's Lace, nettle and thistle. Different species like
different foods so make sure to provide the right food for the
right butterfly. For best results, grow primarily native plants
in your garden, this will attract butterflies in the area.
Non-native plants may be harder to grow and there may not be
butterflies in your area attracted to them. Whatever you do,
don't use pesticides in your butterfly garden. Pesticides will
kill the butterflies you've been trying to attract as well as
any other insects in your garden. Remember that you are
planting host plants so that they become food for caterpillars
so if they are being eaten they are doing their job.


About The Author: Elizabeth Jean wrote this article for
http://www.garden-fountains.com. She recommends you visit them
for Bird Baths, Garden Statues, and all types of
http://www.garden-fountains.com/Page.bok?template=browseStore.