Butterfly Garden Plan

The fun about making a butterfly garden plan is regardless of space,
it reflects you.

Even though you will be creating your own butterfly sanctuary, butterflies seek a habitat. There are things that attract adult butterflies where they will fly around and leave. Then there is creating the welcoming environment where after mating, the female can lay her eggs in host plants ultimately allowing the life cycle of a butterfly to take place.

Regardless of where you live and the space available, here is a list on how to attract butterflies. Your space may be limited to a balcony, a small yard space or a large butterfly garden - get creative and have fun creating your own butterfly habitat.

Photo: David Paul Ohmer

1) Nectar Sources - Flowers and Feeders

Although butterflies are known to consume more than nectar, this primarily is what adult butterflies need for nourishment. Flowers offer pollen where the butterfly can feast. A butterfly feeder is something you can put out also offering butterflies to dine in. This is the same for limited space or larger areas. For smaller areas you will be using containers and hanging baskets. Larger areas have more flexibility to be spread out.

2) Water Sources - Sand, Rocks, Salt Block

After a rain or as a standing water source, butterflies seek the salts and minerals in the soil for additional nourishment. This is called puddling. These needed salts and minerals aid in butterfly reproduction. Butterflies will also puddle or seek shade if they are hot and seek relief from the sun.  See what do butterflies eat for more information.

As with nectar sources this can be done if space is limited and for large garden areas to.

3) Basking Source -

Butterflies need Sunny, Open Areas

Photo: Battle Creek CVB

Butterflies are cold blooded and rely on the sun to warm them.
Cold blooded means that they can't regulate their body temperatures.

When temperatures are warm, butterflies are active.

If it gets cold they lose their ability to function well.

To remain active butterflies must bask, or soak in the sun. The best temperatures for them to function in are 80 - 100 degrees. When temperatures go below 60 degrees butterflies lose
their ability to function effectively.

4) Butterfly Host Plants -

After butterfly mating host plants suited to specific species is where the female will lay her eggs. After the butterfly egg has hatched the emerging caterpillar relies on the food provided by host plant and relying on it also to provide shelter.

5) Butterfly House -

6) Colors for your butterfly garden plan -

Photo: Paul Brennan

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Having a great butterfly garden plan helps in other ways...

• Studies led by Nate Perkins of the School of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph, Ontario states: 
  
  
  
• Kids are distracted with all of the electronics of today. Playing in various outside wild environments seemingly develops children’s imaginations in ways that any virtual stimulation will not. Although your butterfly garden plan may not include only wild environments, it introduces responsibility and creativity.
• 
  
  
• The other study showed that property values increased 
  by 4 to 15 percent when trees are planted on a property than properties without them. The reason for this is completely visual. Properties with trees cover hard visual lines caused by roofs and power lines. Any butterfly garden plan will include trees, shrubs and larger plants needed as windbreaks. Imagine how soft your property will look when trees are combined with soft plants and a variety of color.

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