Wings that can move make the flowers in the sky...

#1  Butterflies need and enjoy direct sunlight, It's a good idea to have an open area in your garden for butterflies to bask in. A flat rock, rocky area, or a sandy area, are just a few ideas you can use.  Butterflies are cold-blooded creatures, they need the sun to absorb enough warmth for their daily activities. Some butterflies bask in the sun with their wings open, while others bask with their wings closed. Basking provides the gardener with an opportunity to observe, or take photos.

#2  Butterflies need a place to roost for the night. They often choose a spot in a bush, or sometimes the underside of a leaf. They like to be in a camouflaged area.

#3  Shelter is an important factor in a butterflies existence. It provides a safe haven from inclement weather, such as wind and rain. Providing shelter helps to keep butterflies safe in your garden. Shrub foliage, or any other type of leafed or wooded area will help to shelter them. An overgrown area will resemble the butterfly's natural habitat, and will provide more protection from the weather and their other dangers more than a single flower border garden. If you do not like the appearance of an overgrown garden try planting tall shrubs, vines, or trees around the perimeter of your garden to provide a windbreak.

#4  Water plays an important part in a butterfly's habitat.  Known as "Mud- puddling". Butterflies obtain moisture and other essential nutrients and minerals from the water you provide for them. Streams and ponds (new), natural or artificial are a must for a butterfly garden. Adding salt to your butterflies water supply gives them the sodium they need. Mud-puddling usually occurs during the warmest hours of the day. Butterflies prefer to land on the moist dirt or sand on the sides of the puddle, rather than directly in the water itself, here they can obtain moisture without putting themselves in any danger.

#5 Butterflies need a place to hibernate. Some butterflies spend the winter months hibernating in crevices of trees and walls. You can provide your own butterfly hibernation house in your garden. Be sure it is hung in a shady area, so the butterflies won't become overheated inside. Building a hibernation house is an easy process: Start with a rectangular wooden box with narrow vertical holes cut into it, for them to enter and exit. You should place long strips of bark or something similar for them to cling to.

#6 Butterflies need a place for breeding.You must supply what is known as "Host plants". After mating, the female immediately searches for the proper host plant to lay her eggs. Place your host plants near a place of shelter. Most butterflies are named for their favorite host plants. The Monarch (a member of the milkweed butterflies) with milkweed (Asclepias), Lure the Pipe Vine Swallowtail with pipe vine (Aristolochia), the Spicebush Swallowtail with spicebush (Lindera benzoin), the European Cabbage Butterfly with members of the cabbage family, and the Orange Sulfur with alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Various carrot family members, such as Queen-Anne's-lace (Daucus Carota) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) will attract the Black Swallowtail. The Gray Hairstreak uses many different types of host plants, such as clover (Trifolium), hibiscus,  and mallow (Malva). The Painted Lady uses a variety of host plants also, including  thistle (Cirsium), mallow (Malva neglecta), and hollyhock (Alcea). The host plants that you provide will attract only those specific butterflies. And in most cases,  the larvae will leave other garden plants untouched.

#7 Feeding your butterflies! You can supply food (nectar) for your butterflies by adding a meadow type garden, which is a garden that is grown wild with grasses and wildflowers. butterflies are attracted to the open areas of this type of garden, it resembles there natural habitat. Another way is to use simple potted butterfly flowers, hanging or stationary. Using the potted butterfly flowers, gives the gardener the opportunity to move them around the yard, porch, or deck. Try placing one near a window, and see the beauty and enjoyment it will bring you and your family.

The Monarch butterfly you see pictured here is one of many from my garden.

Tiger Swallowtail

More Butterfly Photo's Homemade feeders are another alternative food source for butterflies. You can make your own nectar solution of sugar water. Mix 4 parts water with 1 part white granulated sugar, boil the solution for several minutes until the sugar is dissolved, and let the solution cool. Store extra solution in the refrigerator, it will keep for up to a week.  Homemade feeders can be made with a flat dish with an absorbent material such as tissue paper or plastic kitchen scouring pads (this gives the butterflies a place to perch while they drink. If possible try keeping the feeders about 6 inches higher than your tallest flowers. The flowers will attract the butterflies and the feeders will stand out offering an alternative food source. Always wash the dish and change the solution at least once per week, during the very hot months they should be changed at least twice per week.

I hope you have
enjoyed your visit to my How To Butterfly Garden.


Looking for Butterfly gifs? See Sandra Dee's World of Butterflies!
 Don't forget to check out these other Butterfly Links!
  If you have any comments or suggestions about this page they are much welcomed, any information you think should be added about butterfly gardening, or if you have  a butterfly page, I would be more than happy to add your link to my page. You can Email me below.

 Here is a beautiful poem for you: Butterfly Kisses please use your
back button on your browser to return to this page. *updated

Index
To My Other Pages:

---