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Time to Create a Butterfly Garden |
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
It's nearly springtime you say, and surely it is time to begin a butterfly garden. Really it is, so let's get started.
To me butterflies are one of our most beautiful of all creation. Look closely and you will see eye shaped formation on their wings to frighten off predators. Think about the swallowtails for instance. At their most vulnerable stage, as a caterpillar, it resembles bird droppings, and there is no better way to deter predators from sampling it for a tasty snack.
Butterflies are also part of our ecosystem with part of their jobs being to pollinate. So help them and the rest of us out and plan a butterfly garden. Here are a few easy steps.
First of all pick your spot. Remember that butterflies need to be protected from the wind, and prefer a thicket of tall plants and bushes to keep them safe, and it also protects them from bad weather, and predators.
Be sure your garden spot gets at least 1/2 day of full sun each day. Butterflies are cold-blooded creatures and they need to bask in the sun to generate enough heat to fly. Add some flat rocks or a stone path where they can perch and soak up the sun, and they will love you for it.
Be sure that you notice that butterflies will often gather in large numbers on the edge of sand or mud puddles to ring and absorb mineral salts. These butterflies are usually male only, but it all works out well, because during mating the males pass along the minerals the female needs in the form of sperm packets, and these aid in the maturation of the eggs. Some people put out sponges that are damp, and the butterflies get some moisture from this.
Next you need to select plants that have nectar. Here is a realistic list of plants that are easily purchased in this area at local greenhouses, or nurseries. Look for Asters, Marigolds, Black-eyed Susan, butterfly bush, butterfly weed, Joe-pye weed, lantana, Liatris, Star flower, purple coneflowers, sunflowers, Phlox, Bee Balm, milkweed, verbena and Zinnia. You may also plant cabbage, radishes, parsley, fennel, and dill. Many of our local establishments sell perennials so it should be really easy to purchase what you want for your garden. You might also consider planting sunflowers, as they draw all sorts of bees to your garden to help with pollination.
The Erie County Master Gardeners are planning their annual plant sale on May 3, from 9-1PM. It will be held at the Erie County Fairgrounds, and many butterfly garden plants will be offered there for sale at extremely reasonable prices.
Now the garden is planted, there are a few more things you need to do. Because these are newly planted flowers, do water them to give them a chance to set roots and grow. Make sure they don't wilt, and in about 2 weeks, the plants will establish themselves, and then once a week watering is all it takes (either natural rain or your watering the garden!). Remember not to water from above, use a soaker hose, as watering above can dilute the nectar from the flowers. Remember to remove the dead flowers to force more blooms to form, thus giving the butterflies a longer feeding period. Put containers of rotting fruit out near the garden, and this will also attract the butterflies. DO NOT use insecticides, even organic ones on this garden because they can harm your butterflies. Most of all, watch carefully, and enjoy all the different butterflies you will attract. Happy Gardening!
For more information please call the OSU Extension office at 419-627-7631 and they can help with Fact Sheets.
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