Butterflies are beautiful creatures! Unfortunately, with the building of more homes, roads and farms many of their natural habitats have been lost. By planting a butterfly garden, you will be able to observe these interesting creatures and help provide a sanctuary for butterflies native to your area. Butterfly gardens can be various sizes, even as small as a window box!
According to The Ohio Lepidopterists, there are currently 144 different species of butterflies recorded in Ohio.
While an adult butterfly will feed on the nectar of MANY different flowers, the larvae (caterpillar) must eat leaves and stems from usually just one or two specific types of plants (host plants). Therefore, to attract and keep butterflies around the garden, it is critical that a butterfly garden contain host plants to feed the larvae as well as nectar-producing plants to feed the adults.
Planting a butterfly garden can be tricky. You need to know which butterflies are native to your area and which plants attract the butterflies. And if a lot of time is going to be spent creating a butterfly garden, you want to have beautiful blooms from spring to fall. That's why it is important to select a combination of annuals and perennials that bloom at different times throughout the year.
Interesting Fact: Most butterflies are sensitive to yellow, blue and ultraviolet light and are blind to red light.
"Why are tropical flowers so colorful?." Science Illustrated Mar. - Apr. 2010: 30. Print.
According to The Ohio Lepidopterists, there are currently 144 different species of butterflies recorded in Ohio.
While an adult butterfly will feed on the nectar of MANY different flowers, the larvae (caterpillar) must eat leaves and stems from usually just one or two specific types of plants (host plants). Therefore, to attract and keep butterflies around the garden, it is critical that a butterfly garden contain host plants to feed the larvae as well as nectar-producing plants to feed the adults.
Planting a butterfly garden can be tricky. You need to know which butterflies are native to your area and which plants attract the butterflies. And if a lot of time is going to be spent creating a butterfly garden, you want to have beautiful blooms from spring to fall. That's why it is important to select a combination of annuals and perennials that bloom at different times throughout the year.
Interesting Fact: Most butterflies are sensitive to yellow, blue and ultraviolet light and are blind to red light.
"Why are tropical flowers so colorful?." Science Illustrated Mar. - Apr. 2010: 30. Print.