Simple Tips for Creating a Beautiful Butterfly Garden

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Want to turn your garden into a beautiful butterfly sanctuary?

All you need to provide are food and resting spots—and you can do so by planting their favorite nectar sources and a few safe places to land and play (while you enjoy the show).

Bonus: You’ll attract other pollinators to your yard too!

1. Provide butterfly food.

[{"selector":"#anim-ac069ac8-b9e0-49f9-9c56-7ea44eebe2bb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c764257d-6a1d-4ba0-a9b6-2d10fc5ab495","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Unlike many species of moths, their close cousins, most butterflies need food in their adult stage. They feed on a variety of treats, from tree sap to dead animals, but their absolute favorite food in the world is nectar. Learn more

2. Provide caterpillar food.

[{"selector":"#anim-785b71ca-d348-4665-af52-aacc3b5302a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7425d528-efe1-4cdb-ba05-15b2b5e385e0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Just as adult butterflies tend to have their favorite flowers, different caterpillar species can also have strong preferences when it comes to host plants. Learn more

3. Avoid pesticides.

[{"selector":"#anim-5299e17c-3537-4d3d-9f0d-5f905a856b8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-902ce6cf-f026-45c2-a97f-8c90071b0615","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] They don’t just get the bad bugs (or the bugs we consider bad, anyway), but also wreak havoc on a variety of unintended victims. That especially includes pollinators like butterflies. Learn more

4. Provide a mud puddle.

[{"selector":"#anim-e14eed14-b1e0-4382-bd64-9cecb81847a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5aaa0db-d9d1-4008-bfda-dc9aa81afae7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Mud puddling is a common behavior in butterflies, but not a simple one. It’s clear they do it in order to absorb dissolved nutrients like sodium. Learn more

5. Let the weeds grow.

[{"selector":"#anim-85d8d13a-550b-4afd-9cc9-22a5c0579588","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61f908d5-3a9c-46e9-8af2-7c146fda05d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -95.93577%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Some of the most persistent garden weeds are actually an important food source for butterflies and their spawn (especially in early spring when not much has bloomed yet). Learn more

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