GARDENER'S READING ROOM
The Art of Gardening

Gardening for Butterflies . . . And Humans!

What do gardeners and butterflies have in common? We both love colorful, fragrant gardens! Humans are butterfly’s worst enemy—habitat loss and pesticide use threaten their existence. But as wise gardeners, we can also be their best friends by enhancing our gardens to provide them with the four basics of food, water, shelter and sunshine. In return, our gardens will be graced with astounding beauty, color, and motion.

The most successful butterfly gardens provide habitat for the whole life cycle, egg to adult. A butterfly lays its eggs on a host plant. Within four to ten days, a caterpillar emerges and ravenously begins feeding on the host plant. Patience and a commitment not to use pesticides is a must; some plants will have to be sacrificed at this point. Each species of butterfly has its favorite host plants, but nasturtium, clover, milkweed, parsley, fennel, malva, hollyhock, and the cabbage family are often preferred. After three or four weeks, the chrysalis or pupa stage begins, the magical stage of hiding that produces an adult butterfly in one to two weeks.

Adult butterflies feed on flower nectar. The nectar source needs to provide a landing spot as well; butterflies do not hover while they feed. The flowers should be planted in masses rather than as isolated plants, because butterflies are attracted by large splashes of color and scent. A wide variety of perennials, annuals, and sweetly-scented shrubs may be used: echinacea, phlox, achillea, scabiosa, asclepias, sweet alyssum, zinnias, verbena, buddleia, and mock orange are only a few of your choices. By planting flowers with different seasons of bloom, you can provide nectar sources from spring to fall.

Shelter is another key element. Butterflies need protection from wind, rain, and predators and a spot to roost at night. Shrub foliage or overgrown areas and patches of tall grass will offer more protection than flowerbeds next to manicured lawns. Flowering trees, shrubs and vines not only provide nectar, they make an excellent windbreak around your butterfly garden as well.

Your garden should have ample open sunny space as well. Butterflies typically don’t fly until temperatures reach about 60 degrees. A few large, flat rocks in a sunny spot allow them a place to bask and warm their cold-blooded bodies and wings. Mud puddling is another favorite activity, and a low, damp area in the sun where water can collect is ideal for this. Butterflies love "hanging out" at the old mudhole. Any water feature will work as long as it has an area shallow enough for them to land.

The needs of butterflies and gardeners are more alike than different, and it’s easy to accommodate their needs of food, shelter, sunshine and water, because by doing so, you are creating a beautifully fragrant surrounding for yourself.

By Lynn Wright, W.C.N.
Skylights Spring/Summer 2000, Vol 14, No. 2

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