Seasonal News

Butterfly gardens do not have to be large.  You can grow plants in containers on a patio or even in hanging pots and window boxes.  Every plant counts!

Butterflies use the sun to maintain their body temperature, so place your garden in the sunniest location possible.  This will allow the butterflies to soak up the sun’s rays, which is especially important in the morning. 

The key to attracting butterflies is to provide them with lots of different nectar sources; they also prefer to feed on open, tube-shape flowers.  Some of the plants that attract them are:

Allium, Bee Balm, Blueberry bushes, Catmint, Corn Flower, Daylily, Dill, Fleabane, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Joe Pye Weed, Milkweed, Mint, Pansy, Phlox, Purple Coneflower, Sage, Snapdragon, and Tickseed just to name a few.

All butterflies start out as caterpillars that require host plants on which to feed.  Many of these are native plants – “weeds” and wildflowers that may already be growing on or near your property.  Some native, butterfly-benefitting choices include clovers, milkweeds, goldenrod, and violets.

After a rain, you may see butterflies congregating around a puddle of damp area in the garden to drink and extract minerals from the soil.  Maintaining a puddle or a birdbath (with a  rock in it for their safe landing) in the same spot will keep butterflies coming back.