To attract these “flying flowers” to your backyard provide plants that are needed during all butterfly life stages, including a suitable place to lay eggs, food plants for caterpillars, a place to form a chrysalis, and food for adult butterflies. Most butterfly caterpillars do not cause the leaf damage characteristic of moth caterpillars.
Butterfly caterpillars prefer nettles and thistles. Adult butterflies sip nectar from flat-topped flowers with colorful blossoms. Short flower tubes allow a butterfly to reach the nectar. Plant flowers such as cosmos, marigold, zinnia, yarrow, shasta daisy, purple-cone flower or bee balm. Butterflies prefer flowers in open, sunny areas. A butterfly garden will attract other beneficial insects, as well.
The smallest of all birds can hover like a helicopter while it sips nectar and eats tiny insects. Hummingbirds are attracted to red tubular flowers in flowerbeds or hanging baskets. Plant flowers such as fuchsia, salvia, zinnias, columbine, and lilies. Hummingbird feeders should be hung in the shade and filled with a sugar solution of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Boil the solution and store any unused liquid in the refrigerator. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned and refilled every 3 to 5 days. Hummingbirds are territorial and will defend their food source from other hummingbirds. Locate hummingbird foods in several areas of your yard to discourage dominance by one bird.
