Being a good environmentalist is often about not doing something, but here’s a fun activity that’s good for you to do: create a butterfly habitat in your backyard. This simple project helps both the environment and one little creature that is always a joy to watch—the butterfly.It’s easy to welcome butterflies into your garden, just follow these four steps.
- Plant flowers in large groupings. It helps butterflies notice them.
- Butterflies favorite perennials include: Butterfly Bush (Buddleia), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Asters, Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Brazilian Verbena (Verbena bonariensis), Catmint (Nepeta), Daylily (Hemerocallis), Goldenrod (Solidago), Ironweed (Vernonia), Lavender, and Phlox.
- Annuals that butterflies love are: Cosmos, Lantana (it’s perennial in some areas, and annual in others), Marigolds, Sweet Alyssum, and Zinnias.
- Butterflies and caterpillars can be affected by herbicides and pesticides—even organic products. Before you use a product on or near your butterfly habitat, read the label carefully.
~Amanda Miller
Photo Credit: iStockPhoto.com
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