Hey, Kids! Help Mom & Dad Plant a Butterfly Garden! Butterflies are not only pretty to watch but are also in need of your help. With more and more natural areas being replaced with housing developments, malls, and interstates, we can help butterflies by planting plants that will not only attract them, but also supply them with food. In return they will reward us with their beautiful colors and graceful flying patterns.
Colors: the brighter the flowers you plant the better! Butterflies seem to be especially attracted to purple, yellow, orange, and red. Keep the colors growing all season by growing different varieties that bloom at different times.Sun: most of the plants that butterflies need for food take full sun.
Petals: single petal flowers are easier for butterflies to get nectar from than double.
Water: butterflies need water too. A birdbath in the middle of your family garden will not only attract birds, but butterflies, too.
Host plants: in addition to flowers, butterflies also need "host" plants for caterpillars, the larvae of butterflies. While caterpillars will eat these plants, butterfly caterpillars don't do as much damage as moth caterpillars and don't cause total destruction to your plants. Some people suggest that you think of the butterfly catepillar as Mother Nature's "pruner." And keep mind, in order for there to be butterflies to enjoy, there have to be caterpillars!
Some good host plants include: parsley, dill, butterfly weed, fennel, milkweed, aster, and anise.
Here are some recommended plants that attract butterflies and supply them with food:
Shrubs: Azalea, Abelia, Butterfly Bush, Lilac, Weigela
Flowers: Aster, Astible, Butterfly Weed, Calendula, Chrysanthemum, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Dianthus, Echinacea, Honeysuckle, Impatiens, Marigold, Mexican Sunflower, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Solidago, Sunflowers, Zinnia
Herbs: Basil, Bee Balm, Clover, Dill, Fennel, Hyssop, Lavender, Mints, Parsley, Rue, Sage, Thyme
How to Make Your Own 3-D Monarch Butterfly!
Butterfly pattern Paper (8 1/2" x 11") Scissors Glue Materials for decoration |
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Instructions:
1. Click here to view, then print and make copies of the butterfly pattern. (This pattern is designed to fill a standard letter sheet of paper. If you find the pattern prints too small or too large, it may require adjusting the print size either before printing or at the copy machine.)
2. Cut along the solid lines with scissors. (If you want to use other construction paper, trace the pattern on your paper of choice.)
3. Fold along the 3 dotted lines, so that the butterfly's wings come together and body hangs below the wings. Glue along the length of the body and press until dry.
4. Decorate your butterfly.
THE ESSENTIAL BUTTERFLY GUIDE
"There is more to life than the Monarch"
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Favorite Flowers: Butterfly weed, phlox, clover, and thistle Caterpillar Plants: Carrots, parsley, dill, and celery Common Range: Southeast, Desert Southwest, Midwest, New England |
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Favorite Flowers: Butterfly bush, lilac, honeysuckle, and butterfly weed Caterpillar Plants: wild cherry, willow, cottonwood, and tulip-poplars Common Range: Nationwide, except Pacific Coast |
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Favorite Flowers: Aster, goldenrod, phlox, and clover Caterpillar Plants: Clover and alfalfa Common Range: Nationwide, except Florida, Texas, and California |
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Favorite Flowers: Aster, butterfly weed, and centaury Caterpillar Plants: Mustard, turnips, cabbages, and beeplant Common Range: Nationwide, except for western Washington State |
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Favorite Flowers: Aster, butterfly weed, and centaury Caterpillar Plants: Dogwood, viburnum, New-Jersey-tea, and blueberry Common Range: Nationwide, except for south and central Texas |
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Favorite Flowers: Lantana, impatiens, shepherd's needle, and thistle Caterpillar Plants: Passion vines Common Range: Desert Southwest, Southeast, Wisconsin, California |
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Favorite Flowers: Thistle, aster, and gloriosa daisy Caterpillar Plants: Aster Common Range: Nationwide, except Pacific Coast |
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Favorite Flowers: Aster, coreopsis, knapwee, and chicory Caterpillar Plants: Plantain, snapdragon and toadflax Common Range: Nationwide, except High Plains |
I Love My Backyard Coloring Book! At this site, you can color a monarch butterfly, and many other things you find in your backyard!
Make a Butterfly Net! Learn more about the monarch butterfly, and how to make a net to safely catch them.
Poems & Drawings about Butterflies by Other Kids! Read some fun poems and see some drawings of butterflies.
Migration of the Monarch! Read about how the Monarch migrates over 2,000 miles!
South Carolina Butterfly Project! Students at 52 schools across South Carolina are gathering data on butterfly populations at their schools and sharing their data via the Internet.
Butterfly World! Visit the virtual Butterfly World!
If you have comments or suggestions, email us at
devriesb@vianet.ca
Webpage designed and maintained by Leilani Devries
