Theme: Pursuing Pollinators
Butterfly Garden Primer
Before
beginning a butterfly garden project, it helps to understand
what makes butterflies tick at different life cycle stages.
The cycle begins when adult butterflies lay eggs on a "host"
plant. Some butterflies will only lay their eggs on a single
type of plant (e.g, monarchs and milkweed), while others have
several choices. In about five to ten days, the egg hatches
and the tiny caterpillar eats the host plant, shedding its skin
four to six times as it grows. After two to four weeks, the
full grown larva or caterpillar attaches itself to a twig or
other object and transforms into a pupa. The body changes during
this inactive stage and ten to fifteen days later the adult
butterfly emerges. This process, called metamorphosis, means
"change of form."
Adult butterflies feed on nectar from flowers (and in doing
so, inadvertently pollinate some) while the larvae feed mostly
on the foliage of plants. Ideally, a butterfly garden should
contain or be located near a range of plants that will feed
the butterfly at both stages.
Designing Your Garden
You need only a small bed in front of your school or in the
community to create an inviting oasis for butterflies. Consider
using winter months to read, research, and learn about butterflies
and the plants that will attract them in your area. Students
may want to use information from books and seed catalogs to
map out a butterfly garden. You can use sunny windows, GrowLabs,
or other classroom light gardens to begin growing many types
of butterfly garden plants indoors during the winter.
Both butterflies and plants like sun so plan your garden with
a southern exposure or in a site that gets at least six hours
of sun each day. A site sheltered from the wind by trees, shrubs,
or a building, will prevent tall plants from blowing over, and
allow your butterflies to feed, mate, and lay eggs in relative
tranquility.
Nectar flowers provide a source of food for adult butterflies.
Butterflies are attracted to brightly colored, sweet-smelling
flowers that allow them easy access. (Composite daisy-like flowers
are favorites.) Some of the preferred, easy-to-grow nectar plants
are: butterfly weed, lantana, butterfly bush, black-eyed Susan,
purple coneflower, lavender, cosmos, zinnia, and marigold. Butterflies
are attracted to masses of color and fragrance, so try to plant
groups of flowers instead of single plants.
Host plants upon which butterfly larvae dine are often
"weeds," wildflowers, shrubs, and trees native to the area.
Some species will lay eggs on only one type of host plant, while
others have a range. Some of the primary plants for butterfly
larvae include: aspen, alfalfa, clover, nettle, pearly everlasting,
milkweed, grasses, hackberry, parsley, vetch, and willow. Although
the caterpillars of some butterflies, like the cabbage white,
are considered vegetable garden pests, you should never use
pesticides-even biological ones-in a butterfly garden or you'll
destroy your intended guests.
Puddles or other shallow water sources are important,
primarily for male butterflies, more as a source of salt and
amino acids than as a water source. If you have no naturally
occurring puddles, try sinking a shallow container filled with
moist sand, dirt, and/or stones into the ground. Keep it moist
and watch for large congregations of male butterflies and their
drinking buddies.
Dark stones in your garden can provide a warm spot where
adult butterflies can bask in the sun and warm their bodies
for flying.
Obtaining Plants
To get information on butterfly plants for your area, try contacting
the local Cooperative Extension Service, your state's National
Wildlife Federation chapter, or a local botanic garden or arboretum.
During the warmer seasons, invite your students to conduct outdoor
observations to discover what plants butterflies prefer.
Many butterfly nectar plants and some host plants are annuals
or perennials that you can raise in your indoor classroom garden
from seed, and transplant out to your butterfly garden in the
spring. Marigolds, zinnias, parsley, cosmos, and black-eyed
Susans are some butterfly garden plants that are easy to start
indoors. In the fall, students can collect seeds of local plants,
e.g., milkweed, once they have turned brown or black and fall
easily from the flower. Plant them outdoors in the fall, or
indoors in which case they may require chilling to simulate
winter before they'll sprout. Dig up plants from the wild for
your butterfly garden only if you are rescuing them from a lot
that is being developed, or if you know that they are very common
species in your area.
Once you have a plan for your butterfly garden and a list of
butterfly plants that will do well in your area, consider approaching
parents and local nurseries for donations of plants for your
project. Personal visits or letters from students describing
the butterfly project may elicit donations and boost students'
communication skills. Nursery people might even be willing to
help teach students how to plant, transplant, and take care
of their garden.
Author: Eve Pranis
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© 2009
National Gardening Association