Butterfly Gardening
A symbol of freedom and grace, the
butterfly is one of nature's most
mysterious and elusive creatures.
Only on the wing for days, it takes
four different shapes during its life
as it travels hundreds, even thousands
of miles.
Most butterflies, through evolution, have adopted a
particular plant or family of plants on which their caterpillars feed
exclusively. When the plant goes, so does the butterfly.
Butterfly gardening is an antidote for that. Butterflies need two
sources of food: nectar for the adults and "food plants" for the
caterpillars. Most nectar sources are common plants that attract a
variety of species. Lantana and butterfly bush (Buddleia) are very
effective, as are red, orange, lavender and yellow plants.
But caterpillars (arrayed in bright colors and intriguing designs) come
first - and most plants will only support the larvae of certain species:
for instance, milkweed is a favorite of the beautiful Monarch butterfly.
In planning a butterfly garden, make sure your nectar sources are planted
in the sun, since butterflies are sun-loving insects. Water larval
food plants at the base, if there are eggs on them, so as not to disturb
any.
If you don't have immediate success, don't panic - certain
seasons, especially spring and fall, have more butterfly activity than
others. And depending on factors such as weather conditions, the
number of butterflies around may vary from year to year.
Will caterpillars have a field day with your whole garden? Not
really. They tend to stick to their own food plants and be kept in
check by natural predators.
Once you have a good combination of nectar sources and larval food
plants, all you really have to do is wait for the butterflies to start
flocking in.
Note:
For an amazing source of Butterfly information go to
http://www.TopGardenSites.com/partner.html
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