your butterfly garden

Butterflies are pollinators and natural pest controllers. An important species in the food chain, they are also indicators of a healthy environment and ecosystem. Plus, they are fascinating to observe. With a little planning, you can create a lovely flower garden that attracts stunning varieties of butterflies. 1 Research the butterflies found in your area. Which butterflies would you like to observe—monarch? Swallowtail? Look up the local species. Some butterflies will go through their entire life cycle in your area while others may just pass through during migration. 2 Select the right plants. Once you decide which butterflies you hope to attract, determine which plants you’ll need. David Lavender, medical entomologist and wildlife biologist, says, “The best butterfly gardens combine both host plants for caterpillars and nectar sources for adult butterflies.” Different caterpillars will…