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Butterfly Gardening
Written and Photographed by Caroline Martin
The butterfly population, especially Monarch butterflies, are struggling right now because of the destruction of so many plants that they depend on through every stage of their lives. The construction of houses, roads and other buildings are destroying many of the naturally growing butterfly attractors. Sometimes people even pull butterfly attracting plants out of their yards because they don’t like the smell or think that they are weeds.
One of the best and easiest ways to help attract and sustain butterflies is to plant a butterfly-attracting plant. A few examples of plants that attract butterflies are Asclepias (the butterfly weed), Coneflowers, Verbena, Butterfly Bushes, Spirea, Sedum and Garden Phlox. Strange’s at West Broad carries all of these plants and is always willing to help you get started with planting one in your garden.
Here is the process that a butterfly goes through:
Butterflies love laying their eggs on the milkweed plant, especially, because this is what their larvae eat.
Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillars feed on the leaves from these plants until they are plump and green.
When the caterpillars have eaten their fill, they start the process of building a cocoon.
Before long, the butterfly emerges! Monarch butterflies, and many other species, then like to feed on plants high in nectar, like Coneflowers (Echinacea) or Butterfly Bushes. The bright colors of these plants is also an attractor.
When planting your own butterfly garden, it is best to select bright colored butterfly attracting plants, like the ones listed above. The more plants that you plant, the better because large masses of color are easier for butterflies to find. Make sure that your butterfly garden gets plenty of sunlight as well. Butterfly attracting plants LOVE sunlight and so do butterflies!
