What you need for a butterfl y garden

WHAT YOU NEED FOR A BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Many plants rely on butterfl ies 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 fl at rocks so butterfl ies can warm up.

2. Host plants. Adult butterfl ies need to lay their eggs on plants that caterpillars can eat such as dill, fennel, milkweed and parsley.

3. Mud puddles. Some butterfl ies 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, conefl owers, milk weed, phlox and zinnias are just some of the fl owering plants that attract butterfl ies. Choose species native to your region.

5. Varied blooms. To provide

butterfl ies with a viable home, you’ll need a variety of plants so there are fl owers in your garden from spring until fall. 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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