Hi! I have recently been made the director for developing an undergraduate major in sustainability at the college where I work. I would like to have as a first year project the development of a sustainable butterfly garden using native plants (and no pesticides!!!!!)
So, I come seeking advice - you will find I am a willing student. What plants do you recommend for Springfield MA - zone 6 with typically reasonable rainfall most of the growing season and snow during the winter.
What kinds of butterflies are we likely to attract? What special care should we take? Are there any books you recommend the college purchases?
Thanks a gazillion.
Michaela in Springfield.
Native plant butterfly garden project
Here is a link to Butterflies and Moths for your area. Click on each name to find out more about each butterfly, including host and nectar plants.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?dc=5268&_dcc=1&si=22
This message was edited Jun 27, 2009 3:21 PM
Hi, Seandor, Your project looks fascinating. I am fascinated by your schema. Here are a few links that will give you some info/ideas and answer some of your questions about Mass. butterflies:
A link to the Massachusetts Butterfly Club cover page http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/index.asp .
Here is a good list of butterflies found in Mass. and charts showing when they 'fly' during the summer (their 'flights') : http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/flight-dates-chart.asp
The Mass. butterfly club website is full of good info and photos for the beginner and advanced butterfly enthusiasts in Massachusetts. And I'm sure if you contacted them they could fill you in on all the good native plants for your area too. And provide you with some free literature for the classes.
The lead-off article on their publications page is about Land Stewardship and Butterfly Conservationwhich might tie-in to your themes. I think you can download those for free. Also look at their archived bi-monthly newsletters found on the site. Those may have ecology/native plant articles to review, too.
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/club-publications.asp#checklist
And guidelines for conservation centered mowing: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/downloads/MOWING%20GUIDELINESflyer-rev4-6-08.pdf which is an interesting concept for land management but mostly ignored by highway superintendents, etc.
And this is another cool website about natives and conservation that I like to use: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/ and more details concerning Mass. programs http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhesp.htm
And lastly an interesting project on sustainability planned by a teacher in Conn. This may give you some 'pro-active' ideas for community projects for students to implement: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/downloads/Massachusetts%20Butterflies%20-%20No%2026%20%20-%202006%20Spring.pdf
Good luck with the project! t.
And one more Link about creating a Massachusetts Butterfly Garden:
http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/downloads/Butterfly%20Gardening%20for%20web-MC3-24-08.pdf
The author mentions some Massachusetts 'native' plants for the garden, as well as non-natives in the brochure. That may get you started, anyway.
ANJTexas and tabasco - you are geniuses! Thank you so very much! I have tagged this thread 'cause I know I am going to refer to it over and over again ^_^
Cheers,
Michaela