Butterflies add a little magic and beauty to every yard and garden. They also can be very useful in pollinating. Try some of these ideas on ways to attract butterflies to your garden.
Ways To Attract Butterflies
1. Plant Type and Color
Butterflies are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink, and purple blossoms that are flat-topped or clustered and have short flower tubes. I got this tip from National Wildlife Foundation.
2. Plant and Nectar and Pollen Rich Flowers
You want to have plants that they are attracted to and can pollinate, so having these flowers is an important step in attracting butterflies. A few examples are cosmos, butterfly bush, lavender, oregano, and sage. For more ideas of butterfly attracting plants visit Gardeners.com.
3. Sun
There is a reason that we usually see butterflies on warm sunny days…they usually only feed in full sun. So creating less shade, and more sun in your yard and around your plants will invite them to come! This tip is from One Green Planet.
4. Create Butterfly Spas
Another great tip from One Green Planet. Again they prefer to rest in full sun…so flat rocks or tables and chairs that are in the sun give them a great place to land. Butterflies also love puddling…or hanging out in damp sand or mud where they drink some water and mineraliz
e. You can create specific spots for them to do this by filling shallow dishes or pans with sand and some water and placing it in the sun.
5. Butterfly Food
HGTV suggested getting commercial butterfly feeder to attract more butterflies. You can find feeders online, and usually they come in bright red or yellow which are the colors that butterflies are attracted to most.
6. Go Organic
Make sure you are using organic pesticides. Others could be harmful to butterflies. Another great tip from Gardeners.com.
7. Leave Out Pieces of Fruit
Butterflies also love to sip the nectar from oranges, pineapples, and bananas. Instead of throwing away the peels and skins of your fruit… leave it outside for the butterflies. Idea from Mother Nature Network.
8. Grow Plants That Are Native To The Area
By growing native plants, you will attract more butterflies to your garden because butterflies recognize native plants since they have evolved for years with the local plants.
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