Tip of the Week: Creating a Butterfly Garden
Posted in Gardening Tips on July 19th, 2010 by Sonia Uyterhoeven – Be the first to comment |
Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. Join her each weekend for home gardening demonstrations on a variety of topics in the Home Gardening Center. July 31 and August 1 she will present Butterfly Bonanza. |
When we think of wildlife and gardening, sometimes the initial perception is that the two should remain separate, when the reality is that they are entirely interdependent. If you tell people to encourage insects into their garden, their nose often curls. Rephrase it and say “invite butterflies into your garden” and frowns turn into smiles.
Aside from an appreciation of their beauty, why would it serve us to attract butterflies into the garden? Butterflies are second to bees as our most important plant pollinator. They are also sensitive to the environment and act as a good indictor of how healthy the environment is. From an educational standpoint, they provide a wonderful connection to the natural world and a way of teaching children the importance of the food web.
When you see a tiny winged creature flutter by, how can you tell if it’s a butterfly or a moth? Butterflies are active during the day, while moths are usually nocturnal. Butterflies have slim bodies, while moths are fat and hairy. When a butterfly lands, it rests with wings closed; moths rest with their wings open. Butterflies have antennae that are shaped like mini golf clubs; the antennae of moths are either feathery or straight. read more »