A Beacon for Butterflies… in YOUR garden!
Butterflies
adorn our gardens every summer in Wisconsin—but they don’t often appear if
uninvited! Our “invitations” are host plants that will
attract different species of butterflies.
Providing vividly colored,
nectar-rich flowers will entice adult butterflies to visit your garden… those
flowers serve as a beacon for butterflies.
Females may wander into your garden, and if they encounter the kinds of
plants they need for their offspring, females may lay eggs there. A new generation could develop on your plants…
in your backyard garden!
Examples of edible herbs that will satisfy
the appetites of some butterfly species: dill, parsley, fennel, nasturtium, anise and
tarragon.
Examples
of nectar-rich herbs that will attract butterflies: coneflowers, lavenders, mints,
bee balms, sages, rosemary, oregano, and nasturtium.
Gardeners,
don’t forget to provide some Wisconsin native plants when landscaping for
caterpillars! Local species have
evolved with our native plants and are adapted to those natives. All caterpillars will need “edibles” so you
can plant a few of their favorites to assist in their development.
When
shopping for perennials and annuals for your home garden, check each plant
tag to verify whether that plant attracts butterflies. (Some plants are not
considered “edibles” for humans, but can supply nectar sources for butterflies.)
Last week I found
the lovely caterpillar (see photo) munching
its way through my parsley patch; I plant plenty of parsley so I can share with
these butterfly babies!
To protect
the butterflies in your locale, please don’t spray or spread insecticides
unless absolutely critical for a specific insect infestation. Include some native plantings in your garden
design. You might also provide some
flat, smooth rocks within your garden space to encourage butterflies to linger
and sun themselves.
NOTE: At Lamm Gardens in Jackson, WI,
we provide a butterfly habitat in our gardens.
The native milkweed plant shown here—an essential plant for Monarch
butterfly reproduction—grows freely in our Lammscapes gardens. Butterflies frequent our vibrantly colored
gardens, and we gladly provide host plants to attract them throughout the
season.
M. Lynn
Schmid, Certified Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture
