WHAT YOU NEED FOR A BUTTERFLY GARDEN
M
any plants rely on butterflies to pollinate them. Here’s what you’ll need to create a habitat for these beautiful insects in your backyard. 1. Sunshine. Choose a site that gets plenty of sunlight
and is sheltered from the wind. Add a few flat rocks so butterflies can warm up.
2. Host plants. Adult butterflies need to lay their eggs
on plants that caterpillars can eat such as dill, fennel, milkweed and parsley.
3. Mud puddles. Some butterflies get their nutrients
from the water in damp soil and sand, so leave a few areas free of mulch and keep them moist.
4. Nectar plants. Asters, coneflowers, milkweed, phlox and zinnias are just some of the flowering plants that attract butterflies. Choose species native to your region.
5. Varied blooms. To provide
butterflies with a viable home, you’ll need a variety of plants so there are flowers in your garden from spring until fall.
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In the fall, let leaves accumulate in your garden so that caterpillars, chrysalises and dormant adults have a warm place to overwinter.
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HOMEstyle & GARDEN SPRING 2021
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