Even after several years as a conservation agent, I still get to learn new things every day about the natural world around us. When I realize there is topic I do not know very well, I research it through the internet and by visiting with people who are more knowledgeable about the information I am seeking. Then, I do my best to pass on what I have learned to other people.
In this case this, we have been researching and preparing a butterfly garden at home. I did not realize how much I did not know about this topic. The research in this case has verified my memory.
I have seen butterflies using certain areas and plants but never really acknowledged it or thought about their patterns of use. I am still just scratching the surface on this topic and hope to learn more in the years to come through developing this garden, observation and more research.
There are actually two different parts to your garden, if you want to have butterflies around to enjoy in abundant numbers: plants for the butterflies to lay their eggs on, which the caterpillars will eventually feed; and plants from which the butterflies will feed on after they have emerged from their chrysalis stage, or cocoon.
Admittedly, this is not the best time of year to plant either seeds or relocate plants. However, it is a really good time of year to get plants on sale at local nurseries.
Early spring is the best time to plant either annuals or perennials or fall for perennials. There are also other components you can add to the immediate area to create a better habitat to attract beautiful butterflies and moths of different species.
Let us look at some basic species of plants that will attract butterflies to lay their eggs and provide food for the caterpillars, commonly known as host plants. These tend to be quite "leafy" plants, such as dill, parsley, carrot, plantains, gerardias, snap dragons, mustards, cabbage, false loosestrifes, alfalfa, clover, mallows, sunflowers, milkweed and trees such as wild cherry, oak, poplar, hawthorn, willow, aspen, cottonwood and elm.
Plants the actual butterflies feed on may include milkweeds, asters, clovers, zinnia, tithonia, lantanna daises, phlox, honeysuckle, butterfly bush, cone flowers - all nectar bearing plants.
Some consider zinnia, tithonia, butterfly bush, lantana and milkweed to be some of the best, or staples, in their butterfly gardens.
The other components I mentioned to attract butterflies include manure, sand and biodegrading vegetation. Also, flat rocks or stones are a good idea to have around to provide them warmth before they fly.
You can even take an old bird bath and create a small percentage of biodegrading leaves (or even compost in advanced stages), sand and water for the butterflies to "muddle" (feed and drink in a muddy puddle).
Before creating your butterfly garden, you may want to plan it. That's right, plan what goes where. You may want to put the plants for feeding caterpillars hidden behind taller nectar-bearing plants so you do not have to look at all the chewed up leaves, and some plants are taller or bushier. The flowers themselves can very attractive on their own, so arrange them accordingly.
And, do not forget to put this garden where you can easily see it close to the house, possibly near a large picture window.
For more information on butterfly gardens, look for our Missouri Department of Conservation publications, such as the Missouri Wildflowers Nursery-Native Plants Catalog and "Native Plants for Your Landscape" book, or our website at mdc.mo.gov.
There are also some wildflower seeds that I already mentioned, which attract butterflies, available at our MDC nature centers.