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Babies and Butterfly Watching

Jan 8th, 2012
by Kathleen.
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Soft, sling-like baby carriers are best for comfort and for reassuring the baby of your presence. They have been used in traditional cultures for years. Carrying the baby in a sling or soft carrier attached to your body, baby carrying, is also called babywearing.

But which kind of baby carrier is best? Which brand will you choose? One of the most popular carriers today is called the moby wrap. It is soft and well made and both parents and babies seem to love it.

Unless your idea of butterfly watching is to sit on the patio or indoors and gaze at whatever butterflies happen by, you probably like going to butterfly gardens, parks, preserves, fields, or even just empty lots to see how many different species of butterflies you can see and hopefully identify. It can be thrilling to catch sight of a butterfly that is rare in your part of the world.

If you have a baby to care for, that can get complicated. Do you leave the baby at home with a sitter? Or do you take him or her along for some fresh air and sunshine?

Most parents chose the latter option whenever possible. For a variety of reasons, they take the baby along.

So how do you bring along the baby? To keep your hands free for things like buying tickets and holding stair rails at the butterfly garden, taking photos, looking up species in a field guide, etc., you need to put the baby in a carrier—for your safety and theirs.

Babies seem to feel more safe and secure in baby wrap carriers. After calmly watching the world around them for awhile, they often fall asleep. That allows you to devote more attention to butterfly watching, while at the same time resting assured that your baby is as safe and comfortable as possible—and starting off right as a butterfly watcher from the start!


Tags: baby wrap carriers, species identification, butterfly gardens, different species of butterflies, baby at home, babywearing, species of butterflies, butterfly watching, baby carriers, babies and butterfly watching

Starting a Butterfly Garden

Aug 28th, 2011
by ButterflyLover.
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A Julia Butterfly in the garden

A JULIA BUTTERFLY IN THE GARDEN Image via Wikipedia

For your butterfly garden design there are endless possibilities to discover. A few suggestions can already help you to get started with it. The idea behind these suggestions is getting the creative process activated and get you started on your way to create a lovely butterfly garden.

Just, before you start go and get some ideas about which species of butterflies are lingering around in your area. Explore your location while taking a hike around, probably with a butterfly identification book in your hands. Although it takes some time as well as effort you will treasure the final result. After you have detected the species of butterflies prepare a list. Also make notes about what these specific species of butterflies use for nectar and food plants.

Tags: tall shrubs, lovely butterfly, species of butterflies, coldblooded creatures, rock pathways

Butterfly Art – Perfect Interior Decoration

Apr 9th, 2011
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Butterfly art is a very popular term in interior decoration, crafting, and certain other businesses. The creation of decorative items using butterflies is known as butterfly art. It can be printed photos, paintings, or pictures of butterflies. These can be hung in appropriate places to enhance the beauty of the rooms. Butterfly arts can be purchased online or from physical stores at varying prices, depending on the print size and type of the butterfly used in the art. As these arts require less maintenance and care, they can be placed for once and then forgotten. Still they will add to the beauty of your house or room.

 

It is not long since butterfly art has been given a lot of importance. As the number of butterfly lovers increased and some species of butterflies decreased or became extinct, the initiatives to protect and enjoy their beauty started. Butterfly art was one such initiative. Some foundations or organizations which work towards the protection of butterflies hold the butterfly artworks on display. This will help the people see and understand the different varieties of butterflies in the world.

 

The artworks are often printed on to canvas and photos are available framed and without frames. There are a lot of online shops which offer these photos in preferred sizes. You can place your order for the required number of prints in the desired sizes. Printing the same photo in different sizes and preparing a collage or arranging them in order gives a good aesthetic appeal. This technique is being used for many types of decorations nowadays. Once you get your butterfly prints, you can arrange them roughly in a variety of designs and patterns and decide on the final arrangement.

 

Butterflies have often been described as a girly thing. But as butterfly arts are available in a wide selection of girly and dull colours, it can be used to decorate your kid’s bedroom, living room, or even your office. You can choose a print which blends with the harmony of the room. If you intend to buy it for your kid’s room, you can choose a bit colourful one. Using the picture you can also teach you kid what a butterfly is and how to protect it from extinction. You can also buy butterfly houses to add to the beauty of the room. Or you can even place it outside, and encourage children to let butterflies stay and grow over there.

 

Butterflies exist in a wide variety of colours and designs. So before buying a butterfly art, you can gaze through the collections available and choose the best one. Some are available in rare colours and designs. This can be a real treasure to your butterfly art collection. And always buy the artworks from authentic sources.

 

Butterfly art can also be a good gifting idea. So if you plan to gift a butterfly art, you can order it online well in advance.

Butterflies are lovely creatures and make your interiors more beautiful. For a detailed information and to purchase butterfly art, see HERE.
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Tags: butterfly art, species of butterflies, pictures of butterflies, dull colours, butterfly lovers

Let Your Kids Fly – On The Wings Of A Butterfly

Mar 18th, 2011
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Butterflies are a special category of the insect family because of their charming hues and good looks. Though one of the smallest they are also one of the most awe inspiring creatures of this world. They mostly feed on flowers and flower bearing weeds and thus mostly found prancing in and around flower gardens. Kids and butterflies share a very special relation. Because of their merry colorful looks and spirit full flight butterflies are an easy favorite with kids of all ages. Even popular cartoons like ‘The Venture Bros’ have characters dressed as monarch butterfly. This interest can be put to use by making children learn more about butterflies, different types of their species and their feeding habits, the pattern of their migration and more. You can encourage them by gathering butterfly information for kids.

You probably don’t even know how many questions their little minds nurture regarding butterflies. What do they eat? Do they have brain? Does their heart beat like ours?  For starters they would gain by knowing that there are more than 15000 species of butterflies scattered all over the world. They are often perplexed why their winged friends go missing during the chilly months. Information about butterflies will make them understand that a warm weather suits them the most. Most of them can be fatally injured by being held and handled improperly. Small butterflies that have just emerged from their pupa should not be touched at all. If the vein on the front wing gets broken due to rude handling the butterfly will remain flightless forever. These little facts will make your child more responsible and careful when they venture out to see butterflies.

Kids are often said be like a mould of clay that comes out as well you cast them. Gathering and recording information, keeping them in an organized manner is a very healthy habit that you can inculcate in them by guiding them. Firstly check out if your child likes butterflies. Most likely, most of them would. Next make them search about different types of butterflies, where they are found, what they eat, where they migrate, etc.Make them keep a small notebook where they jot down their findings and sketches if they like to draw. It would be an asset they will love to flaunt in front of friends and classmates. Praise their efforts and give little rewards to heighten their interest and happiness.

What can heighten their interest further is keeping their own live butterfly kit. They can see the caterpillar grow and evolve into a mature butterfly. The different stages of metamorphosis will become crystal clear and you will soon be delighted to find a young Darwin in your little one. Not only will this sort of activity keep him active and informed but also grow a sense of responsibility in them. It is a very nice way of keeping your child busy during those long holidays. http://www.thebutterflysite.com” Butterfly information for kids is a good option as winter project too. Get more by logging on to.


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Tags: Monarch butterfly, species of butterflies, flower gardens, insect family, winged friends

Butterfly Houses And Attraction To Gardens

Mar 16th, 2011
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Many look upon the grassy hills of Kansas, sprouting flowers like weeds, and wonder not of the floral fragrance or how high the grass but instead of the abnormal amount of glorious butterflies monopolizing the sky. It easy to wish to attract a colony to ones own backyard. The imaginary scene of tiny flapping colored wings floating through your thoughts is complete with butterfly houses sitting silently in the corner, welcoming any whimsical flying friend that happens to enter. However, you may have dismal hopes for your fairy-god mother to bibidy bobidy boo this picturesque view to your suburb home. This may sound like gibberish – but your wish just might come true!

Turns out, the reason so many butterflies surround wild hills is for their flowers nectar and the plants surrounding them, which are ideal places for females to lay their eggs.

Now, for all species of butterflies, different flowers and plants are attractive. For example: Tiger Swallowtail females are very attracted to cherry trees, tulips and lilacs to rest their larva. While they prefer the before mentioned cribs for their larva, they prefer alterations to this list for nectar. These include: lilac and Japanese honeysuckle.

To also include a wide variety of species to your gardens appeal, the most prominent flowers falling under the best nectar list for many species include: Black-eyed Susan, Lilac, Lavender, Hibiscus, Rosemary and Verbena. A caterpillar will starve to death if a plant can not be found that meets its expectations. Good food is obviously a first priority.

It is also highly important (especially if located in cold, rainy areas) to keep as much shade away from your garden as possible. Butterflies are cold blooded animals meaning they need a substantial amount of food and warmth to live. To insure a suitable habitat, keep the shade from trees or ornaments to a minimum, be aware of the weather, keep plants suited to butterflies graciously spread across your garden, plant many butterfly attractive flowers.

This is where butterfly houses come into particular good use. A single rain fall with no place to hide for a lighter than air creature could cause them to leave, in hopes of a better sheltered home. But remember, shade is a turn off for these cold blooded animals. This makes butterfly house the perfect solution. Some timber, a splash of paint and a pole is all you need to give your backyard guests a space of their own to wear off the cold or rain.

An important fact to note is that butterflies can not drink from bird fountains or any great mass of water. When one finds a butterfly drinking, it is almost always in a drop of water that would not get the taste of cucumber out of your mouth. Butterflies typically drink from mud puddles as well, so keeping your grass watered each day will provide enough to quench their thirst.

The small adjustments that attract the most beautiful of creatures will turn your garden into a beauty with or without butterflies. In providing for their simple needs, you will have a garden envious of all; bringing you back to the view once marveled upon by the hills of Kansas every glace out your own suburb window. Take a page out of the butterfly effect; make small changes to your garden and you will be seeing butterflies in no time!

Are you looking to find more information on where you can find out more on Butterfly Houses? Visit our website to find out more! So why are you hesitating? Visit our website to find the best deal on Butterfly Houses to attract beautiful butterflies to your garden.
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Tags: species of butterflies, japanese honeysuckle, tiger swallowtail, black eyed susan, fairy god mother

Colourful and Free Butterfly Wallpaper

Feb 18th, 2011
by ButterflyLover.
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Two billion monarch butterflies (pictured) hib...

Image via Wikipedia

Free butterfly wallpaper brings the butterflies closer to people through still pictures. Butterflies are such beautiful insects that are fascinating to adults as much as to the little children. There are many different species of this lovely creature all over the world.

Some people plant gardens to attract these species out of a strong attachment to these creatures. However what most people may not realise is that they have a fascinating growth cycle. They start out as eggs.

The eggs have a variety of colours depending on the butterfly species. Some are green, others are yellow and brown among other colours. From the egg comes out the larva which is a caterpillar.

Caterpillars are not as beautiful as butterflies such that the transformation of the butterfly in its growth cycle is amazing. From the larva stage the butterfly is transformed into a pupa or chrysalis. At this stage the butterfly is wrapped in a cocoon.

It is at this stage that the butterfly metamorphoses from a caterpillar into a beautiful, winged butterfly. Some free butterfly wallpapers depict the growth cycle of butterflies. These can be a complete science lesson for children and adults alike. (more…)

Tags: butterfly eggs, larva stage, species of butterflies, butterfly lifespan, different species of butterflies

Butterflies; the winged beauty

Feb 7th, 2011
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                      BUTTERFLIES; THE WINGED BEAUTY 

                                                                                 BY- Mr. RAJESH KUMAR MOHAPATRA

        Butterflies are the scaly winged insects with clubbed antennae. They belong to the Phylum, Arthropoda; Class, Insectaand Order, Lepidoptera. There are 1,50,000 species of butterflies and moths belonging to the Order Lepidoptera from which 1,78,20 are butterflies. There are 1501 identified species of butterflies found in India. Order Lepidoptera (Gr. lepis, scale; pteron, wing) have been classified in to two sub-Orders: Rhopalocera(Gr. rhopalon, club; keras, horn) including butterflies and Heterocera(Gr. heteros, other; keras, horn) including moths. Rhopalocera is further divided in to five families: 1. Hasperiidae, 2. Papilionidae, 3. Pieridae, 4. Lycaenidae and 5. Nymphalidae.

Diversity: India has been divided in to 10 Biogeographical zones. All the zones have butterfly diversity but it virtually depends on the presence of host plants and climatic condition of that region. Sikkim, the organic state of India has about 50% butterfly species diversity of the India. There are 321 species of Hasperiids, 107 species of Papilionids, 109 species of Peirids, 443 species of Lycaenids and 521 species of Nymphalids in India. Southern bird wing (Triodes minos) and Grass jewel (Chilades trochylos) are the largest and smallest butterflies of India, respectively.

Life cycle: Life cycle of butterflies include four stages (egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis, imago or adult) with a complete and complex metamorphosis. Butterflies are dioecious. Fertilization is internal. Eggs are laid on the upper surface of the host plant leaf immediately or after 1-2 days of fertilization. Egg is covered by a thin pellicle which is variedly sculptured and has a rosette of cells on its extreme summit. This cell rosettehas a microscopic pore called Micropyle in its centre used for fertilization by sperm and also for respiration of the developing embryo. Larva or caterpillar hatches out after about 3 or 4 days depending on the surrounding temperature. Caterpillar is 14 segmented. Head is scleritized and is immediately followed by three thoracic segments each having a pair of true leg ending in a horny claw.  From the 10 abdominal segments, prolegs are present from third to sixth abdominal segment and in the last abdominal segment. Spiracles, the breathing pores are present on the plural region through which air enters certain tubes ramifying within for the aeration of the blood. It is present in 1st thoracic, then 1st abdominal to 8th abdominal segment. The skin of the caterpillar split at the middle of the back and the larva crawl out of it. This is called moulting. The stage between the moulting is called as Instar. There are five Instars in most of the species. Last Instar is called as Prepupa. Pupa is the stage of resting and differentiation, resulting in all the organs outlined. However its wings are small and applied close to the thorax on the lower side and the proboscis is straightened to lie between the wing case. Just before emergence, the pupal case splits open on the back. The butterfly crawls out of the chrysalis and find a suitable perch. Initially the wings are wrinkled and shriveled but slowly blood is pumped in to the veins. At this time the butterfly is very vulnerable to attacks from predators. Then the butterfly becomes ready to fly in search of food and mate. Adult butterfly can only feed the liquid food by its sucking type of mouth part.

Colouration: Colouration in butterfly is determined by two colour systems i.e., Structural colour system which relies on the reflection, refraction and interference of light by scales on the wing of the butterflies and Chemical colour system which relies on the pigments present on their body and wing such as melanin, carotinoids and pterin (only found in Pierids).

Mimicry and camouflage: Some butterflies exhibit mimicry and camouflage for self-protection. Mimicry is the protective imitation in appearance and behaviour of one species to the other. Mimicry is of two types; Mullerian mimicry (proposed by Fritz Muller) and Batesian mimicry (proposed by H.W. Bates). In Mullerian mimicry unpalatable species mimic with each other by the convergence of wing pattern. The butterflies become unpalatable by feeding the host plant leaves which synthesizes alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides for defense against browsing. These chemicals are retained in the adults and render them unpalatable to predators.  In terms of predation pressure the individuals of all the Mullerian species act as a single species and the predator that eats an individual of any of the Mullerian species does not eat any individuals of any other species. Common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) showsMullerian mimicry to Crimson rose (Pachliopta hector). In Batesian mimicry the palatable butterfly species mimic to the unpalatable (module) butterfly species for their protection. Danaid eggfly(Hypolimnas misippus) male and Danaid eggfly female show Batesian mimicry to Great eggfly (Hypolimnas boline) male and Plain tiger (Danaus chrysippus) female, respectively. Camouflage is the protective resemblances with the inanimate objects of surrounding. Pupa of Mime (Papilio  clytia) butterfly camouflage as a dried broken twig of host plant.

Distinguishing butterflies from moths.

Characters

Butterflies

Moths

Egg

Dome shaped, upright and sculptured

Rounded, flat, scale like and reticulate

Caterpillar

Five pairs of prolegs present

One or more pair may absent

Pupa

Chrysalis may found hanging from twig, lie on leaf or on ground

Construct cocoon for chrysalis and bury it under ground or conceal it under bark

Wing folding

Sit with the wing erect to body axis or spread out

Wings are folded back

Antenna

Knobbed or hooked at the end

Branched or furnished with cilia

Rigidity of the wings

Hind wing is expanded into a shoulder fitting under the fore wing for rigidity

rigidity is attained by frenulum of hind wing and retinaculum of forewing

Importance: Butterflies are valuable pollinators. Pollination by butterfly is called as Psycophily(Gr. psyche, butterfly; philos, friend). Butterflies are one of the important food chain components for the birds, reptiles, spiders and predatory insects like Preying-mentis. They are good indicators of environment as they are sensitive to change in the environment e.g. decrease in the number of host plant or nectar plant. They are also good candidate material for the study of genetics, insect-plant interaction and co-evolution.

                                      Threats: Butterflies are the crucial part of our environment. But now they are under potential threats due to the following reasons. Fragmentation and degeneration of habitat by forest fire, cattle grazing in protected area, vast monoculture of some economic important plants and tea plantation. Non implementation of law which includes illegal trading of butterflies especially the Papilionids creating major threat for them. Threats also include the general ignorance like the application of pesticides and lack of awareness about the butterfly and its habitat. If they are not protected timely, the day is not far when we will lose these lovely species to obscurity.

Conservation: Butterflies can be conserved by controlling forest fire and cattle grazing in protected areas by forest department, participation of local people in constituting butterfly parks, research stations and butterfly farming, popularizing butterfly eco-tourism, establishment of Wildlife Sanctuaries exclusively for endangered butterfly species and creating awareness in common people. To promote the butterfly ecotourism the first Butterfly Park of India was established at Bannerghat National Park, Bangalore; inaugurated in November 25, 2006. The second butterfly park of India was established at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The first Open-air Butterfly Park was established at Rangrang, Sikkim. There are 450 species of butterflies have been protected under The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; from which 128 species under  Schedule-I, 303 species under Schedule- II and  19 species under Schedules- IV. Growth of small patches of vegetation (larval host plants and nectar plants) can provide home for these threatened butterflies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rajesh Kumar MohapatraM. Phil. student in Department of ZoologyBerhampur UniversityBanja Bihar, Berhampur-7Odisha, Indiarajesh.wildlife@gmail.comM – +91-9937563742
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Tags: butterfly diversity, species of butterflies, butterflies and moths, clubbed antennae, life cycle of butterflies

Make a Garden to Bring in Butterflies

Feb 4th, 2011
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With many species suitable cracked and bags others useless because of our suddenly sighted and selfish tailor of living, conservation is one thing that all of us penury to pay interest to. Butterflies, with their diverse scale of vivid ensign invite most of us. The sad part, however, is that many species of butterflies are tight approaching extinction. Their normal homed is whichever being destroyed or is not being favored by gardeners. Butterflies basic detail plants and plants as well as an environment friendly to laying eggs to flourish.

Those interested in providing an environment which will support butterflies, for conservation as well as enjoying since myriads colors the butterflies come in, can make a small contribution by making a butterfly backyard. Like any other plot, butterfly patch requires a little bit of energy, a lot of mind, and an impartial amount of learning about the plants to wish from.

Making a butterfly backyard will add to the inclusive conservation exertion along with beautifying the plot and make it more fragrant. There are hundreds of plants and plants that will draw butterflies and divergent to general belief, greenery and greenery too play an important part in butterfly gardens. The icing on the cake is that it will supply loads of avenues for some exotic photography too.

Autumn Sage, Marigolds, Sweet Pepperbush and Phlox are the most trendy plants but the lean is long. Plants like Morning Glory and Butterfly Bush, also known as Buddleia, too snare the awareness of butterflies. Among bushes and bushes one can desire New Jersey Tea Tree and/or the Hawthorn Bush. Wildflowers, like Spearmint, Ironweed or Thistles also support butterflies.

Once the abundance is made one has only to ponder deftly as to where to workshop them for greatest payment. With this half the job is over, one can outing to charming thought of the plants and the butterfly population that they will encourage.

Insects like, spiders, ants, flies, wasps, and birds are unsafe for butterflies. The tough part is that one cannot use pesticides indiscriminately to murder these insects as pesticides are hurtful to caterpillars, larvae, and butterflies. The blood-sucking insects, aphids, cannot be controlled by pesticides. It is a tricky setting but life provides answers where creature efforts become unviable. Whereas other insects can be controlled by using traps, the normal way to dominate aphids is to freedom ladybugs and other bugs that do not injury butterflies. Sometimes a plain spray of water on aphid infected plants will do the job.

Butterflies are even attracted by what we call garden munchies and mashed up fruits like watermelon, bananas, and oranges too will help with making the garden more helpful to butterfly population.

One hardship not disquieted that something erroneous is being done by increasing the population of the butterflies in this manner. Mother Nature has its own sense and balances everything in its own way. Butterflies too are vulnerable to disease and viruses.

Information on life cycle of a butterfly can be found at the Butterfly Facts site.
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Tags: butterfly gardens, butterfly bush, butterfly population, species of butterflies, exotic photography

The Popularity of Butterfly Gardening

Feb 4th, 2011
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Butterfly gardening has become popular, both to magnetize the scenic travelers and to help domain species of butterflies that were dwindling due to soul encroachment into their innate habitats. Butterflies feeling sunlight! Whether you wish to works a traditional plot or a container plot, make positive that the plants are in sincere sunlight for much of the day.

If you’re forecast a butterfly plot, it’s important to keep in psyche that there is no one recipe for a successful plot. Butterflies like to “pond.” Your plot desires a place of watering puncture for the butterflies to juice from. This could be done by basically rich a terra cotta pot or small plastic bucket with small rocks or pebbles about two inches from the edge. Butterfly species that are indigenous to different areas are attracted to different types of plants. To forward butterflies, you’ll poverty to know the butterfly species that are found in your blackhead, and suggest them with plants that are special food sources for adult butterflies as well as those plants that they pretty for laying their eggs and nourishing maggot.

Add water to permeate the lingering liberty. Place the puddle in the midpoint of your backyard, some values that relate to all butterfly gardens. Wherever you live and anything butterflies you prospect to magnetize, you’ll attract more of them if you pursue a few unfussy basics, Butterflies dearest to eat nectar. Use some of these nectar-producing plants to attract them: milkweed, azalea, goldenrod, black-eyed susan, zinnia, aster, phlox, Japanese honeysuckle, ironweed. A few nectar-producing shrubs are butterfly plant, many fruit leaves, privet, blue and redbud.

Butterflies will flock to large expanses of plants in analogous colors that flourish at the same time rather than to release plants with just a few blooms. A carpet of violets, a sea of buttercups or a thick open pasture detailed of Queen Anne’s Lace is solid to be visited by dozens of butterflies. Butterflies like bags of influence! Group clusters of the same plant together to make them easier for butterflies to see. A group of quaint plants attracts them easier than distinct flora.

Butterfly gardens should to provide both sun and shade.

Like all insects, butterflies are cold-blooded creatures. They boom on thaw sun, and will relax on fixed rocks or perch for long notes on the twigs of a high plant in the sunlight. At the same time, they require shade and shelter when the sun is too hot, or on cool, imprecise living. A field that gets lively sun for at least 4-6 hours per day is the best spot for a butterfly plot, but don’t forget to embrace landscaping facts that offer shade.

Learn about butterfly identification and karner blue butterfly at the Butterfly Facts site.
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Tags: japanese honeysuckle, terra cotta pot, adult butterflies, black eyed susan, species of butterflies

How To Have A Nice Butterfly Garden

Jan 30th, 2011
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Imagine the next time you join a discussion about butterfly garden. When you start sharing the fascinating butterfly garden facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

What is butterfly gardening? Simply put butterfly gardening is the art of growing flowers and plants that will attract these colorful and magnificent creatures to our own gardens. A properly planned butterfly garden offers great joy to visitors of the garden by attracting these lovely flitting creatures for our amusement and delight. It also ensures a safe habitat for the butterflies.

Deciding upon how to design your butterfly garden is just a matter of personal preference on your part. In reality, butterflies simply do not care about the style of your garden, only the plants that attract them. Typical points to consider for choosing your butterfly gardening plan are the size of your garden and the types of flowers and plants you want to grow. Pick a style of garden that appeals to you and ensure it contains the plants and flowers that appeal to the butterflies you wish to attract.

It is important to do thorough research on exactly which plants and flowers will attract certain species of butterflies. Speaking of butterfly species, do you have an idea of what kinds you want to attract to your garden? Do you know which ones live in your area? Once you work out this decision and decide which types of butterflies you want flying around and visiting your home, then simply create your butterfly gardening plan around those species.

When building your butterfly garden be careful how you coordinate the colors you choose for your flower beds. Although butterflies do not care about your choice of color, it’s better to plan ahead. You want to avoid having your butterfly garden looking like a hodgepodge of unrelated colors and textures that could create confusion to you and maybe even the butterflies.

Some people find it helpful to draw and color a layout of their butterfly gardening plan to see what the finished product would look like. Keep in mind that warm colors like red and orange are flashy and showy. These colors have a greater impact against a strong green background. Cool colors such as blue and purple are soothing and toned down and would work better with a white contrast to create the look of freshness and brightness.

Lastly, here is a brief list of plants and flowers that you can look into when designing your butterfly gardening plan. They are the honeysuckle, sunflower, milkweed, summer lilac, Valerian, daisies, Purple Coneflower, Yellow Sage, day lilies and lavender.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about butterfly garden? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

When creating a butterfly garden, the possibilities of what to include in your butterfly garden design are endless. Below are some suggestions to help get you started when designing your butterfly garden plan. They are designed to spark the creative process of your mind and get you started on your way to creating a lovely and well-suited butterfly garden.

- First, before you even begin your butterfly garden, find out which species of butterflies are in your area. Consider taking an exploratory hike around your location with a butterfly identification book to find the butterflies that dwell close to your property. This may take a little extra time and some research on your part but the results will be worth the effort. After you have compiled your list of local butterfly species, be sure to write down in your butterfly garden plan what these particular species of butterflies use for nectar and food plants.

- Be sure that your butterfly garden plan includes a location that provides at least six hours of sunlight per day. Butterflies are cold-blooded creatures and therefore, do better where they are warm and sheltered.

- Wind can be a butterfly’s worst enemy so be sure to have plenty of wind protection in your butterfly garden design. You can plant tall shrubs and other plants in order to create a wind break. Know the direction of your area’s prevailing winds. The first choice, however, is a nice ‘tucked away’ location that avoids heavy winds.

- Keeping the above points in mind, choose a suitable location to have your butterfly garden. The best of all worlds would be a butterfly garden placed on the south side of your home with windbreaks on both the west and east sides. You may also wish to be sure that you are able to view you butterfly garden from inside your home as well as provide seating outside from which to observe the antics of the butterflies.

- If your area permits, a possible suggestion for location of a butterfly garden is provided by Barbara Damrosch in her book Theme Gardens. She suggests the use of an old basement or home foundation if such is available around your home or the place you wish to have your butterfly garden. As an alternative, you can excavate an area and build a stone wall around the excavation to simulate an old construction foundation. Remember to covered the bottom of the excavation with several inches of gravel where you do not intend to plant your nectar and food plants for the butterflies. This will save you from a muddy walk through your butterfly garden after a rain.

There are many creative ways for constructing a butterfly garden. Take your time to design a garden that you will enjoy and be proud of later when all is said and done.

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

Michael Hehn writes articles about various topics.
Find out what he has to say about butterfly gardens at Your Butterfly Garden
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Tags: types of butterflies, Butterfly Gardening, butterfly species, butterfly garden, species of butterflies
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