Anyone interested in making a butterfly garden in your yard, here is an exceptional article on butterfly gardens:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_wildlife_butterflies/article/0,1785,HGTV_3653_2045973,00.html
Here is more info:
Beckoning Butterflies
by Jill Slater
If you love butterflies but aren't an avid gardener, it's a match made in butterfly heaven. That's because an untamed garden becomes more like a natural habitat. Think about it: where do you see lots of butterflies flit and flutter freely? In wild meadows where the terrain is left alone to do what it does naturally, without the help of green thumbs.
Avid butterfly gardeners allow part of their home turf to become genuine ecosystems and are willing to tolerate a bit of a mess. They leave their rakes in the garage and allow fallen leaves and plant debris to become nesting territory for butterfly larvae.
Don't be discouraged, however, if the entire weekend was just spent cleaning the yard. Allowing just one small corner of the yard to go unkempt, says horticulturalist and nursery owner Leana Beeman-Sims, "gives butterflies a place to rear their young, which is one of the most important ingredients in attracting them."
The four ingredients of a successful butterfly garden, she advises, is "plant diversity, a chemical-free environment, sunshine and a bit of wet ground."
Yarrow serves as a broad "airport" for butterflies to land on--and feed on.
Provide plant diversity. Luckily, many home gardens already beckon adult butterflies. That's because butterflies are attracted to common annuals and perennials such as aster, cosmos, lantana, marigold, scabiosa and sweetpea. The blooms of yarrow and Gloriosa daisies offer broad flowers that butterflies see as airports. Butterflies can rest on each bloom while sipping the flowers' nectar--important because, unlike many birds, butterflies can't hover.
Diversity also means growing some tall plants that help create a breeze-free zone. Butterflies need a sheltered, peaceful place to feed.
Besides supplying butterflies with nectar sources, it's probably most important to supply them with host plants where they can lay their eggs. Two favorite easy-to-grow host plants are Lavatera and parsley. For more varieties, see larval host plants for butterflies.
Avoid pesticides. Many well-intentioned gardeners don't quite make the connection between caterpillars and butterflies and sometimes view caterpillars as an enemy. "If you spray pesticides to get rid of garden pests, you'll most likely get rid of the butterfly population too," says Beeman-Sims.
Give them a spot in the sun. Butterflies are cold-blooded and truly solar-powered. Their wings must be a certain temperature for them to take flight. When basking in sunshine, they are literally gathering energy. Many of the plants that butterflies cherish--such as lantana and butterfly bush--also like the sun.
Wet ground. Butterflies need water but they avoid running water and big fountains. Offer them still water instead. Many gardeners set out bowls of water, or you may want to wet the ground. In the wild butterflies settle on mud puddles. Wet earth simulates this natural setting and offers them the moisture and minerals that they need.
Dave
Helpful and Interesting Article About Butterfly Gardens
