I continue to dig two fresh holes in the rich, black soil of my backyard flower bed. Yes! This is the perfect spot for those new caterpillar host plants I just purchased at the garden center. There, I've got them tucked in right beside the two lovely Buddleias (butterfly bushes) I planted last year. The exquisite Monarch butterflies will soon be returning after wintering in warm, sunny Mexico. Without a doubt, some adult Monarch females will choose my Asclepias (milkweeds) on which to lay their eggs after they return.
"Well . . . I'm still waiting," my neighbor states loudly, interrupting my pleasant train of thought. "Just give me one good reason why you're planting those awful milkweed plants there."
Patting the warm soil a tad bit more around my new plants with my gloved hands, I simply reply, "Because I love butterflies!"
Rising from my knees and brushing the fresh loose soil from my jeans, I look up and see my neighbor shaking her head. She peers at me intently, as though looking for signs of heat stroke as I wipe my sweaty brow with the back of my hand. Then, leaning even further over the fence that separates our yards, I see her fairly glaring at my newly planted asclepias. It seems clear she thinks I've just taken leave of my gardening senses.
Clearly, I have some serious explaining to do!
Please come along with me and my neighbor as we learn why butterfly gardeners should cater to caterpillars. After all, it is a matter of life or death for some caterpillars!
Much has been written about planting nectar source plants in gardens to attract the magical butterfly. It is pretty much a given that butterflies are not terribly particular about which blossoms they imbibe their nectar from. They're not even very fussy about how much nectar is found in any given flower. They will simply continue to flutter tirelessly from blossom to blossom until they're satisfied.
Why cater to the caterpillar?
It is critical that certain adult female butterflies, such as the Monarchs, find exactly the right plant on which to lay their eggs. It's not like they can just pick any lovely plant they happen to land on in your garden. Not at all! For the Monarch, this must be a very specific plant. One that will meet the nutritional needs of her new babies--her caterpillars! No other plant will do, because the survival of the Monarch species literally depends upon this plant.
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