It’s a beautiful summer day. You are relaxing in the yard, enjoying all the colors of the season, sipping on your favorite beverage – and a few butterflies drop in to say hello and explore the plants and flowers. Everyone loves when a gorgeous butterfly makes an appearance – so this summer, how about setting up your yard so that the butterflies are not only attracted to visit, but to stay? Butterfly gardens need not be extravagant or complicated; in fact, they only need a few things – the perfect spot, bright and nectar-filled flowers, a little water, and a few rocks. Rose Hill Flowers is here to help you with the florals you need to get going!
Do You Have to Plant a Garden? You do not need to plant an actual garden in the ground to attract butterflies. You will have success with window boxes or potted plants as well. The key is to provide a safe, protected area of concentrated flowers that catch their attention.
Of course, you can have butterfly gardens without flowers. While most species of butterfly do have favorite flowers, there are some flowers that attract many butterflies fairly consistently. Not surprisingly, butterfly bushes are recommended, as are sunflowers, asters, and goldenrod. Both zinnias and marigolds will beckon butterflies, as will classic Shasta daisies. Clover, thistle, dandelion and lavender are great fillers to guarantee visits from these delicate creatures.
When picking where to place your garden, two things are most important. Butterflies need to stay warm, so direct sunlight for at least 5 hours per day is definitely recommended. Secondly, you’ll want to keep the area protected from too much wind, so a fence, hedge, or trellis is a great barrier to keep the garden sheltered. Once you have your location and have positioned your flowers, add a few flat rocks that the butterflies can alight and rest on, and give them a mud puddle! That’s right, butterflies actually extract needed nutrients from muddy or sandy water. Fill a birdbath with water and sand, or create a mud puddle on the ground – just keep it abundantly hydrated, and add a few rocks or twigs so the butterflies can rest while drinking.
Whether a few plants on your patio, or a garden that takes up your entire backyard – butterflies enjoy having a place to return to that provides for all their needs. With a little work and creativity, you can ensure this beautiful visitor drops by your Nashville yard often – and Rose Hill Flowers can help.
