|
|
|
|
It's Gardening Time!
There's nothing more relaxing than sitting on your deck, porch, or patio, and watching butterflies float by. They are perfect little creatures that bless us with their grace and beauty. To attract butterflies to your garden, provide their essential needs:
- Source of Water
- Source of Nectar (Food)
- Host Plants
Source of Water
A natural source of water would be nearby lakes, streams, and ponds. Many homes have automatic lawn sprinklers, which provide a dependable source of water.
Source of Nectar (Food)
Plants that produce nectar are good food sources for butterflies. If a plant has flower blooms, most likely it has nectar. Good choices are petunias, verbena, butterfly bush (buddleia), lantana, black-eyed susan, purple coneflower, cosmos, and zinnia.
Host Plants
To reproduce, butterflies need a host plant on which to lay their eggs and provide food for the emerging catepillar. Research the butterflies native to you area, and provide host plants. For instance, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Black Swallowtail are native to the Mid-Atlantic area. They like to lay their eggs on Red Maple trees. We have a huge Red Maple tree in our front yard.
Butterflies also like to land on a rock so they can rest and sun their wings. Make sure rocks are strategically placed throughout your garden, especially in full sun.
Make your garden a welcoming place for butterflies ... It's Gardening Time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
