Diversity: The Key to Successful Butterfly Gardening

HOST PLANTS FOR THE CATERPILLARS' DINING PLEASURE

Host plants are those plants that female butterflies seek on which to lay their fertilized eggs. The female of each species instinctively knows which plants her baby caterpillars will feed on after they have hatched. She will go to great lengths to find the appropriate "host" plant for her babies. Butterfly gardeners should always do their homework first to learn which species of butterflies are native to their particular area. Next, do some research to determine the appropriate host plants needed for those species in your locale. Finally, depending on the size of your garden plot, plant several host plants for each species of butterflies you want to attract to your garden.

You probably won't want to make your host plants the focal point in your butterfly garden - save that area for the butterfly's colorful nectar plants. Keep in mind that those hungry caterpillars are going to be dining on "their" host plants from the moment they hatch until they enter the pupa stage. Host plants can be planted in a somewhat unobtrusive area of your garden - neither the butterfly nor the caterpillar will care. All they will care about is satisfying their appetites!

FOOD FOR ADULT BUTTERFLIES

Adult butterflies will imbibe nectar from a myriad of flower blossoms. Again, butterfly gardeners should research which flowers the butterflies in their areas are the most attracted to. Should your butterfly garden be located in sunny Florida, the flowers you plant will vary a great deal from the flowers gardeners living in colder regions with harsh winters will plant to attract butterflies. As mentioned earlier, observing Mother Nature's habitats will prove very helpful when deciding which flowers or flowering shrubs and trees to plant.

Butterflies aren't terribly fussy about the colors of the flower blossoms they frequent. Their primary interest is to imbibe enough nectar from those blossoms to provide them with their daily energy needs. This gives you, the gardener, a lot of latitude when selecting the flowers and flowering shrubs or trees that appeal to you. After all, this is going to be YOUR garden too - your "flying flowers" will only add to its ultimate beauty.

SHELTER

Butterflies are very cold-blooded insects and can only fly when their bodies are warm enough. On days that are unusually cold or windy, they look for a place of shelter until the sun once again

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