Saturday, 25 August 2012

Get Butterflies To Come To You

By Leonard Ewing


Butterflies are beautiful insects that are easily attracted to your yard with the right plants and flowers. If you want to know more about which plants and what colors can be used to get them interested and have them stick around, read on. There are a myriad of different types of butterflies in varied color and size. Did you know there are over 14,000 different types that we know about? There are Hesperiidae Butterflies, better known as skipper or darts which range from brightly colored to brown and are commonly mistaken for moths. Another common family is Papilionidae Butterflies which are better known as swallowtails. They are typically large and have extensions at the end of their wings that look like tails.

While there are feeders and such that can be used, perhaps the easiest and most common ways to lure butterflies to your property is to use specific flowering plants. While you might find there are plantings that can target specific species, there are also plants that can be used to attract butterflies in general. Adult butterflies can be attracted with colorful flowers such as red, purple and yellow. Some of the most common flowers that work well are butterfly weed and milkweed. These plants grow in many different climates and are often used to attract butterflies to your yard.

Since butterfly species are native to certain areas of the country it can make sense to first find out which species can be found near you. You can then use this information to figure out how to best attract them and get them to stay. Keeping them on your property requires host plants for their young. Some swallowtails, for example, are attracted to such things as dill, fennel and Queen Anne's lace. Other species, like skippers can be lured with sedges and purple grasses. With each species having specific interests it makes sense to do some research first on which types of butterflies are in your area and what you can use to best attract them.

Adult butterflies need sunlight to thrive and will only feed in full-sun. It makes sense that the plants they feed on also require full or partial-sun. Plan your garden space in the sunniest part of your yard to maximize the number of hours the butterflies can feed. The more light you can provide the better your success. Completely avoid the use of pesticides in and around your garden space. "These products can easily kill adults and caterpillars alike and can lead to several seasons of inactivity," warns Hector Nunez with a Denville landscaping company.

A butterfly garden can make an incredible addition to any landscaping or gardening project. With some simple research and planning it's both easy and fun to create an environment where they'll be drawn and want to stay. Make sure you do some pre-planning by looking for which species are common to your area and which plants are best suited and easy to grow. Choose plant varieties that return year after year and require only feeding and basic maintenance so you need not repeat your efforts. Armed with this information you're well on your way to creating a beautiful butterfly garden.




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