| A unique and beautiful way to conserve the | | | | as the swallowtail, prefer to land on flowers with |
| environment is cultivating a butterfly garden. | | | | large compact heads because they provide a seat |
| Butterflies are some of the most beautiful, fragile | | | | for the butterflies to rest on while feeding. These |
| creatures in nature and have sometimes been | | | | types of flowers include asters, goldenrod, zinnia, |
| called "flying flowers." Butterflies pollinate flower, | | | | marigolds, and yarrow. |
| and both adults and larvae are an important food | | | | Other flower types that butterflies prefer have |
| source for birds, bats, and other wildlife. There | | | | tightly packed clusters of flowers. These include |
| are nearly 700 species of butterflies in North | | | | lantana, honeysuckle, and mildweed. For the best |
| America, and in the Chicago area, common | | | | butterfly garden, choose a selection of plants that |
| butterfly species include the Black Swallowtail, | | | | blossom at different times of the year to provide |
| Cabbage White, Eastern Tailed Blue, Spring Azure, | | | | nectar throughout the spring, summer, and fall. |
| the Monarch and many others (Owens, 1991). | | | | Many butterflies, like monarchs, migrate south in |
| Attracting butterflies to your yard and garden is | | | | the fall to spend the winter in warmer climates. |
| easy if you create a habitat that meets the | | | | Including fall-blooming forbs like asters and |
| needs the butterflies' needs for growth and | | | | goldenrods in your garden will help them along on |
| development. Adult butterflies feed on nectar | | | | their journey. However, be careful not to plant |
| from colorful, fragrant flowers. Suitable habitat | | | | flowers that are too aggressive or invasive such |
| also includes shelter from wind and rain, open | | | | as English ivy. This plant can out-compete all other |
| sunny areas for basking, and mud puddles for | | | | kinds of plants in the garden and limits the |
| water and nutrients. | | | | diversity of the garden habitat (Owens, 1991). In |
| A butterfly garden can be any size, but it needs | | | | addition to nectar, butterflies need water and |
| to be in a sunny, open area protected from wind. | | | | minerals although they do not drink from open |
| You should determine from which direction the | | | | water. They receive the moisture and minerals |
| prevailing wind comes from and plant larger | | | | they need from moist areas around water. This is |
| shrubs, vines, and trees as a windbreaker. The | | | | called "mud-puddling." Butterfly mud-puddles can be |
| windbreaker should protect the garden from wind | | | | created with a bucket or any non-toxic container |
| without decreasing the amount of sunlight | | | | that holds water. Find a sunny spot that is out of |
| necessary for plant growth. You should choose | | | | the wind and near the nectar plants. Bury the |
| nectar-producing trees, shrubs and vines that | | | | container in the ground, and fill it almost to the |
| provide both food and protections. Pink or white | | | | top with wet sand. Place a few twigs or rocks on |
| ocean spray and rhododendron are excellent | | | | top of the sand for perches (Owens, 1991). Most |
| choices for shrubs. A trellis or wall covered with | | | | importantly, do not use pesticides in your garden |
| honeysuckle ore clematis will be a gorgeous | | | | because many pesticides not only kill the target |
| barrier. Nectar producing trees include | | | | insect species but adversely affect all stages of a |
| cottonwood, dogwood, cherry, apple or plum | | | | butterfly's life cycle. Some alternatives to |
| (Owens 1991). | | | | pesticides are spot treating individual plants with |
| Adult butterflies look for sources of nectar for | | | | organic oils or soaps, removing caterpillars from |
| food and color, fragrance, size, and shape are all | | | | leaves by hand or just accepting insects as a |
| important characteristics of the best nectar | | | | natural part of a flourishing garden. |
| flowers. Because butterflies are nearsighted, they | | | | Besides the sheer pleasure of watching butterflies |
| are attracted to large patches of a particular type | | | | flit around on a sunny day, there is a strong |
| of flower. If you want to attract a certain | | | | argument for cultivating butterfly gardens and |
| species, a large splash of brightly colored flowers | | | | that is conservation. Jennifer Owen, in her book |
| of one type is more effective than several types | | | | The Ecology of a Garden, argues that even small, |
| of different plants. However, planting several kinds | | | | conventional gardens can be a significant collective |
| of good nectar producing flowers usually attracts | | | | nature reserve, particularly in urban areas. Even if |
| more species of butterflies. Fragrance is even | | | | conservation isn't your primary goal, you can take |
| more important than color for attracting | | | | some satisfaction in knowing that your efforts |
| butterflies. Many nectar producing flowers such as | | | | may be contributing to the preservation of some |
| lavender, lilac, and honeysuckle, gives off strong | | | | of the world's most beautiful creatures. |
| fragrances to attract pollinators. The size and | | | | References Owen, Jennifer. The Ecology of a |
| shape of flowers is also important in attracting | | | | Garden. (1991). Cambridge: University Press. |
| butterflies for your garden. Large butterflies, such | | | | |