Butterflies are free...

We hear a lot about "going green" and organic gardening, but the reasons given are sometimes broad terms, like "save the environment" or "preserve the ozone." These are very wonderful goals from a generalist view. However, being just one little person, the attempt to save the environment or preserve the ozone seem pretty far out of reach for me as an individual. And besides with everyone else doing their part, I'm sure it will get done. Wrong!


But I believe if we can determine a real need that we as individuals can perform and accomplish, then the overall goals can be reached. So having done some research on how important butterflies are to our environment and to our health, and how endangered they are. I decided to plan a Butterfly theme for my garden.
First some facts about butterflies:
Butterflies don't sting, or bite, or carry disease.
Butterflies most important job is as pollinators.
Butterflies are indicators of the balance of nature.
There are over 300 species of Butterflies.

Butterflies can smell and locate the kinds of plants they prefer from a long way off, long before they can see the bright colors.

So how do you plan a garden that will attract butterflies. Remember visiting the countryside and seeing dozens of beautiful butterflies flitting from one flower variety to the next in the large open field. Well as housing developments and industrial building begin to appear and the wide open meadows disappear, the butterflies have fewer options. This has endangered the proliferation of the butterflies as well as loss of bees. Two major pollinators necessary to feed our population. Loss of wide open fields and meadows are not the only problems butterflies encounter, there are also many predators just waiting to feed on the larvae and caterpillars they evolve into a beautify butterfly.

It is important to realize that butterflies need two specific types of plants for their livelihood. One type of plant for storing their larvae and one type to provide nectar. So what to do? Don't just start planting.
The plan:
Determine the available space, and how much shade and full sun there is in this space. This is important to the success of plant growth. If garden space is limited consider using pots or barrels strategically placed. Depending on your climate consider planting citrus trees in pots so they can be taken inside during the cold weather. Citrus trees are a butterflies' favorite.

Determine how much money and time you have available for this project and be realistic. Planting perennials is a real money saver as they will return the following spring. Lantana, black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, yarrow and butterfly weed are a few perennials especially attractive to butterflies. Annuals such as salvia, zinnia, verbena, penta and cosmos attract butterflies, but will have to be planted each year. Organic nurseries or nurseries' that specialize in native plants are excellent places to search for "butterfly attracting" plants. Butterflies love vines! Plant as many as you can, passion flowers, honeysuckle, Carolina jasmine. These also return year after year when properly mulched in the Fall. Remember that butterflies require water for drinking and hygiene. Provide a soft flowing garden fountain or logs with small hollows that capture rain water for them. Some butterflies are attracted to red and orange blooms, others like white, yellow, purple and pink. So just plan for lots of different colors. Plant your flowers in dense clumps, not spread out. This gives the butterfly camouflage protection from predators.

About the predators. The butterflies' predators include birds, spiders, parasite wasps that actually use the caterpillars to lay their eggs inside, and insecticides. Extreme care should be used when using insecticides against butterfly predators. Some of these will actually kill the butterfly you are trying to protect. This is why developing an "organic" butterfly garden it so important. It just allows nature itself to provide a balance between predator and butterfly.
Do your research. Check out websites such as http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/butterflypages/butterflyinfo.htm
Get the kids involved through websites such as http://www.kidsbutterfly.org/

I really think I may be reincarnated from a butterfly. What I have just described is the very type of garden I myself enjoy most. Hope you do too.
The Fountainlady