Whatever the reason most people enjoy seeing butterflies in
their gardens and would welcome more.The good news is that
it is not that difficult to add the essential ingredients
that attract lots of these beautiful creatures, and keep
them happy once they have turned up.
It is worth saying that a garden that works for butterflies
is perfect for other creatures too.Like the canary down the
mine, the presence of lots of butterflies is often an
indicator of a healthy environment. Butterfly lifecycle
Every infant school pupil knows caterpillars turn into
butterflies (and moths).But most of us are often less clued
up about the details of the butterfly lifecycles.In the
late summer months buddleias and other flowering plants are
alive with the flutter of butterflies, but within a few
weeks the majority though not all will die as winter
approaches.
Others like the small tortoiseshells and red admirals, look
for a quiet dry hideaway and prepare to sleep until
spring.When warmer weather arrives they find a mate and the
female lays eggs that hatch out as the years first brood of
caterpillars.Once those caterpillars have eaten their
fill, they go through the transformation from chrysalis
stage to winged adulthood.
Some species lay a last brood of eggs in autumn which then
remain unhatched until spring.A few others survive the cold
months tucked away in chrysalis.If you are setting out to
make your garden more butterfly friendly, it is worth
thinking about different strategies for winter survival.
Obviously you need to provide flowers for adult butterflies
in summer and early autumn, but just as important is some
sort of shelter during winter and somewhere for
caterpillars to live. Now for something sweet to eat
The main priority is definitely nectar, Butterflies will
visit any garden if it has the right mix of plants.Pick a
selection from the list below.
* Flowering March to May Aubretia, Alyssum, Sweet rocket
and Forget-me-not.
* Flowering June and July Buddleia, Red Valerian and Pot
marigold.
* Flowering August to October Buddleia, Candytuft, Sweet
William, Sedum spectabile and Michaelmas daisy.
Where you position the nectar plants can make all the
difference.Butterflies are very sensitive to heat loss and
will avoid chilly winds, so a south facing border that
catches the sun but is protected from breezes is a certain
favorite.
To get the maximum value from what you plant, it is best to
put flowers together in blocks rather than scattering
individual varieties here and there.This is because as
butterflies move around an area they are more likely to
spot blocks of the colours they are searching for.
Somewhere to lay eggs
The best butterfly garden needs to be more than a nectar
cafe.It should also provide somewhere for females to lay
their eggs and for young caterpillars to feed.Watch a
female butterfly looking for the right foliage to lay her
eggs on and you will see her briefly taste each leaf.She is
very choosy as most caterpillars will eat only the leaves
of one or two plant species.
This means that if you allocate some space to growing the
right plants you will probably end up growing beautiful
butterflies too.
Also it is worth finding some space for some plants
caterpillars love to eat.EG:the caterpillar of the orange
tip will eat honesty, while the brimstone's caterpillar
likes buckthorn leaves and the comma enjoys munching
hops.The favorite caterpillar food of the peacocks, red
admirals and tortoiseshells is the stinging nettle. Provide
a shelter
Lastly but not least caterpillars and butterflies need
shelter during the winter, it is a matter of life or
death.This doesn't mean you need to buy the "butterfly
homes" you sometime see in garden centres, the best tactic
is to be a little more relaxed about your end of year
garden clear up.
When we clear dead flower heads from borders in autumn we
often destroy chrysalises.While over grown hedges and
climbers are typically the places adult butterflies pick to
hibernate so leave the tidying up until spring.
----------------------------------------------------
Butterflies will visit any garden if it has the right mix
of plants visit http://www.mygardencenteronline.com and our
garden perennials department to find those plants.
their gardens and would welcome more.The good news is that
it is not that difficult to add the essential ingredients
that attract lots of these beautiful creatures, and keep
them happy once they have turned up.
It is worth saying that a garden that works for butterflies
is perfect for other creatures too.Like the canary down the
mine, the presence of lots of butterflies is often an
indicator of a healthy environment. Butterfly lifecycle
Every infant school pupil knows caterpillars turn into
butterflies (and moths).But most of us are often less clued
up about the details of the butterfly lifecycles.In the
late summer months buddleias and other flowering plants are
alive with the flutter of butterflies, but within a few
weeks the majority though not all will die as winter
approaches.
Others like the small tortoiseshells and red admirals, look
for a quiet dry hideaway and prepare to sleep until
spring.When warmer weather arrives they find a mate and the
female lays eggs that hatch out as the years first brood of
caterpillars.Once those caterpillars have eaten their
fill, they go through the transformation from chrysalis
stage to winged adulthood.
Some species lay a last brood of eggs in autumn which then
remain unhatched until spring.A few others survive the cold
months tucked away in chrysalis.If you are setting out to
make your garden more butterfly friendly, it is worth
thinking about different strategies for winter survival.
Obviously you need to provide flowers for adult butterflies
in summer and early autumn, but just as important is some
sort of shelter during winter and somewhere for
caterpillars to live. Now for something sweet to eat
The main priority is definitely nectar, Butterflies will
visit any garden if it has the right mix of plants.Pick a
selection from the list below.
* Flowering March to May Aubretia, Alyssum, Sweet rocket
and Forget-me-not.
* Flowering June and July Buddleia, Red Valerian and Pot
marigold.
* Flowering August to October Buddleia, Candytuft, Sweet
William, Sedum spectabile and Michaelmas daisy.
Where you position the nectar plants can make all the
difference.Butterflies are very sensitive to heat loss and
will avoid chilly winds, so a south facing border that
catches the sun but is protected from breezes is a certain
favorite.
To get the maximum value from what you plant, it is best to
put flowers together in blocks rather than scattering
individual varieties here and there.This is because as
butterflies move around an area they are more likely to
spot blocks of the colours they are searching for.
Somewhere to lay eggs
The best butterfly garden needs to be more than a nectar
cafe.It should also provide somewhere for females to lay
their eggs and for young caterpillars to feed.Watch a
female butterfly looking for the right foliage to lay her
eggs on and you will see her briefly taste each leaf.She is
very choosy as most caterpillars will eat only the leaves
of one or two plant species.
This means that if you allocate some space to growing the
right plants you will probably end up growing beautiful
butterflies too.
Also it is worth finding some space for some plants
caterpillars love to eat.EG:the caterpillar of the orange
tip will eat honesty, while the brimstone's caterpillar
likes buckthorn leaves and the comma enjoys munching
hops.The favorite caterpillar food of the peacocks, red
admirals and tortoiseshells is the stinging nettle. Provide
a shelter
Lastly but not least caterpillars and butterflies need
shelter during the winter, it is a matter of life or
death.This doesn't mean you need to buy the "butterfly
homes" you sometime see in garden centres, the best tactic
is to be a little more relaxed about your end of year
garden clear up.
When we clear dead flower heads from borders in autumn we
often destroy chrysalises.While over grown hedges and
climbers are typically the places adult butterflies pick to
hibernate so leave the tidying up until spring.
----------------------------------------------------
Butterflies will visit any garden if it has the right mix
of plants visit http://www.mygardencenteronline.com and our
garden perennials department to find those plants.
