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As a frequent visitor of the
Butterfly Pavilion* not far from
my former-house in Colorado, I became fascinated with the idea of having these lovely creatures
take refuge in my backyard. Outside the butterfly pavilion is planted a garden designed to
attract butterflies. I resolved to plan a butterfly garden of my own.
Since I enjoyed my own backyard Colorado Butterfly
Garden, I want to recreate one in Lubbock. Before creating the garden, I needed to
research to find out which butterflies call Lubbock, TX home and which plants both attract these
butterflies and act as their hosts. I am sharing my research in the hopes that you will
find it helpful.
* When in the Denver area, be sure to visit the
Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center, 104th and U.S. 36 in Westminster, Colorado.
Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Call (303) 469-5441 for more information.
I'll miss visiting it.
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The Joy of a Butterfly Garden |
| Butterflies in the garden, what
could be better? I certainly hope I will be able to duplicate my efforts in Texas.
The steps should be the same - the plants selected may be different -- and certainly the
butterflies will be. Thankfully butterflies are garden critics, they are just
looking for a place to eat, drink, lay their eggs, and have a safe environment for their
babies. |
| Before creating the garden, I
needed to research to find out which butterflies call Lubbock, TX home and which plants
both attract these butterflies and act as their hosts. I am sharing my research in
the hopes that you will find it helpful. I am particularly interested in discovering
perennials suited for butterfly gardens. Just for clarification, the plants that
caterpillars eat are called "host plants." The plants that adult butterflies
eat are called "nectar plants." I'll want to have both kinds of plants to attract
butterflies. Keeping in mind that adult butterflies may prefer nectar from specific
plants they will "eat" from a wide variety of sources. Caterpillars are much more
specific. In picking plants for my garden, I have to be sure to include both host &
nectar plants. Certainly want to make the caterpillars & butterflies feel at home. |
| Let the adventure begin!
Come along - I'll keep you posted as to my progress, or lack there of. |
| Basic
Concepts |
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Go native rather than using only hybrids.
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Provide plants for each of the
four life-cycles of the
butterfly.
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Plant in several clusters of the same plant and
scatter the clusters throughout the garden.
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Although the butterflies won't critique
your garden design, they will like it better if you cluster the colors as well. You want
the butterflies to see splotches of colors rather than a
jumble
of textures and colors.
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Be generous with yellow, red and purple flowers.
Butterflies like these colors and so do I.
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Research* to discover which flowers (HOST & NECTAR)
attract specific butterflies in your area. What works for me in hardiness zone is
7 to attract the butterflies of Lubbock County, TX may or may not work for you.
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In addition to plants, accommodate butterfly
behavior.
Butterflies are cold-blooded. They need a place bask under the sun’s
heat.
Butterflies need minerals too. They need a place for
"puddling." (eating mud)
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Visit
butterfly-feeder-project for instructions to make a butterfly feeder from a glass
jar, a sponge and sugar water.
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| * If you don't want to go the
trouble of discovering exactly which plants attract butterflies in your area, I have a
"generic" list of "typical" plants that generally attract
butterflies. (What I am trying to say is: "Try these plants, they may or may
not work for you but at least you will have a beautiful garden to enjoy - with or without
butterflies) |
| So here goes, the key in
creating a butterfly garden is to meet
the needs of these delicate-looking creatures so they will be all a flutter in your yard.
Sources for Plant in Lubbock |
| If, no, when, my butterfly
garden is successful, I'll go to the North America Butterfly Association and complete
their application to the
Butterfly Garden Certification Program. Certified garden receive (you have to
pay for) a sign that can be displayed. |
|
List of Public Butterfly Habitats in Texas
- this is not a complete list. |
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