Attracting butterflies to your garden is easy. Just follow a few simple to steps to make it butterfly friendly.

Plant in a sunny spot that gets at least 5-6 hours of sun each day. The butterfly plants flourish in the sun, and planted in the sun, provide a place for the butterfly to stop and warm up. The butterflies wings must be a certain temperature to allow it to take flight.

Your butterfly garden does not need to be very big but should contain groupings of plants and a variety of plants to attract the butterflies. Groupings of butterfly flower containers could be used on a sunny deck if you are limited for space.

Two types of flowers will need to be planted: Nectar producing flowers to provide a source of food for the butterfly and "host" plants which will provide a place for the butterfly to lay it's eggs and also a source of food for the caterpillar. (See list below). Butterflies prefer bright colored flowers such as reds, oranges, yellows, purples and dark pinks.

Your plants MUST be pesticide free. Pesticides kill not only the offending pest but the good critters too.

Butterflies cannot land in birdbaths, etc., to get a drink of water. They like to "puddle". You can provide a wet area in your garden, or fill a shallow bowl with a mixture of sand and soil. Add enough water to create a puddle. Place a few small flat rocks for the butterflies to land on. When you first set the bowl out you may want to add a bright flower petal in the bowl to attract them.

After you plant your garden, keep a journal with pictures, writings etc., that identify your visitors.

NECTAR Plants:
Butterfly weed, butterfly bush, lilac, honeysuckle, lantana, aster, violet, gloriosa daisy, cosmos, verbena, coreopsis, zinnia, Joe-Pye weed, purple cone flower.

HOST plants:
Parsley, Queen Ann's Lace, tulip tree, willow, wild cherry tree, mustard, turnip cabbage, hibiscus, dogwood, vetch, clover, violet, passion vine, hollyhock, snapdragon, hops, nettle, plum tree, Oak, elm, blueberry, pea family, phlox.