How to Plant a Garden Butterflies Will Visit!
Butterflies need you as much as you need them! You know what they do?
They not only look beautiful flying and fluttering, but they are also very important for pollination of the plants in the garden.
As they travel from flower to flower drinking the delicious sweet nectar each flower has to offer (in different flavors, of course), they collect plant pollen on their bodies and spread it to each plant they visit.
Without this invaluable assistance, the plants could not make seeds, which is their #1 job!
Some things to keep in mind when selecting a site might be to choose a place out in the sun.
Butterflies like bright, hot sun.
Also, considering they don't weigh much, a place that is protected from the wind would be a good idea, like by the side of a building or house.
Be sure to have a good source of water because butterflies can get very thirsty. A bird bath, small garden pond, or small animal waterer all make a nice place to get a drink.
You may also see your butterfly visitors drinking out of hummingbird feeders if you have them hanging near! This is a good way to get a closer look!
Place flat rocks or logs around the flower bed or garden. Butterflies like to rest on warm surfaces.
FLOWERS TO PLANT TO BRING BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR HOUSE
white alyssum
pink and white rock cress
candytuft
catnip
cornflowers
phloxes
primrose
Sweet William
petunias
pink valerian
hesperis
polianths
goldenrod
cosmos
marigolds
buddleia (butterfly bush)
verbena
purple coneflower
Butterflies seem to like the single type flowers best. Perhaps it is easier to sip the nectar.
Their favorite colors seem to be purple, yellow, orange and shades of red.
If you want to encourage the insects to stay and raise their babies, plant some of these for the caterpillars to eat:
milkweed
clover
nettle
Queen Anne's Lace
They also like carrots, dill ,parsley, and violets.
Would you like to learn MORE about butterflies? Check out theses websites!
