Feb 22 2010
Designing a Butterfly Garden
Butterfly gardens should be tranquil places full of bright colors, gentle breezes and fluttering wings. Follow the suggestions below and you should have butterflies everywhere in your garden.
When designing a butterfly garden, one of the best color schemes to use is the flowers that bloom in the warm color range (red, yellows, oranges) put these in the center of the garden and use the cooler color range (purples, whites, blues) as the contrast.It is also best to plant your butterfly flowers in large groups so they are easy for the butterflies to see.
Most butterfly plants require at least six to eight hours of full sunlight each day to flower properly. So be sure to place your garden where there is plenty of bright light.
Be sure to put some butterfly host plants into the butterfly garden. Caterpillars need food to be able to turn into butterflies. The plants they eat are very specific to each butterfly so do some research to find out which butterflies you want to attract and plant those host plants.
Try not to use water sprinklers to water the garden. It is best to use soaker hoses or drip irrigation whenever possible. Sprinklers will dilute the nectar in the flowers and
butterflies cannot feed while the sprinkler is running.
Do not use any commercial pesticides in the butterfly garden,because these chemicals
will destroy the very insects you are trying to attract. Most pesticides have a wide range of insects they kill, they cannot tell the difference between a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and a Japanese beetle . The best way to protect your plants from pest problems is to keep your flowers healthy and happy. Make sure you plant them in full sun, with good soil, keep them well watered, and don’t overcrowd them.
Be sure to put a small mud puddle in your garden so the butterflies can get the minerals they need. Just sink a small bucket filled with sand, gravel and dirt up to it’s rim. Put it in a sunny, sheltered spot, and keep it filled with just enough water to keep it damp.
Most of all, make sure that you take the time to enjoy the spectacular beauty these colorful insects can bring to your garden during the summer months!
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