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- They kill butterflies and caterpillars while many harmful insects quickly become immune to them.
2. Plant your garden in sun.
- A sunny area facing to the south would be ideal, as it gets most of the sunlight during the day. Butterflies need sunlight to fly!
3. Research!
- Find out what butterflies are found in your area � the host plants need to be for their caterpillars!
- Where is your property located? Near woodland or in suburbs? What is the soil like? To determine what will thrive in your garden, make observations on the gardens of your neighbourhood or in the parks, or search advice at the local plant nursery.
4. Plant flowers rich in nectar for the butterflies.
- Plant a large area of one species or one colour � butterflies are attracted to quantity.
- Nectaring plants that provide cover and thus shelter for the butterflies, eg. Black-Eyed Susan and Butterfly Bush, invite butterflies to stay in your garden for longer.
- Native plants and especially wildflowers are preferred.
Make sure that some butterfly favourite will be blooming from spring through late autumn.
5. Plant host plants for the butterfly caterpillar � OR, transform a part of your property into a no mow area or into a meadow.
- Remember, the so called weeds are just modest looking wildflowers.They are a sure bet, as they provide the natural food for the butterflies of your area.
No caterpillars, no butterflies!
6. If in doubt � go natural!
- Give room to the wildflowers. Don't forget these: Urtica dioica
for caterpillars, Cirsium arvense for adult butterflies.
- Butterfly feeders or butterfly houses are just expensive decorations of no real use. Butterflies do not live in a "house" like we do, they live in the nature. Think in terms of plants, vines, shrubs, and you'll also save lots of money!
7. Provide water.
- Butterflies need water for the minerals they extract from it. A small muddy and damp area is ideal, though if you have a ditch or a stream in the vicinity, you don't necessarily have to do anything.
8. Watch � DO NOT TOUCH!
- Do NOT touch or handle butterfly eggs, caterpillars, pupae or the adult butterflies. That will be harmful to their well-being.
Always remember and respect that butterflies are creatures of their own - just like we are - and they cannot be owned or controlled.
But that is a quality only adding more to their beauty.
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