Butterflies are Always in Style

Painted Lady on Oregano Bloom

Garden trends seem to be less dynamic than hair and clothing fashions. Thank goodness for that. I'll admit I used to perm my hair and wore every top armed with shoulder pads. You know what I'm talking about - the giant pads made of mountains of foam. Back in the 80s women's tops had sewn in pads - the only exception were swim suits. The smart pad inventors even thought of "one pad size fits most shirts" that stayed in place with velcro attached around the other elastic strap that women wore. Around 1995 a friend took me aside and told me straight to my face that the 80s were over and it was time to go shopping immediately. I complied and drove straight to the mall.

Trends in gardening have more staying power.  Succulents, cacti and terrariums are more popular than ever. The interesting shapes, colors and sizes of no fuss air plants (tilandsia) already seem like space age plants so should be around for decades. Gardener interest in heirloom plants and seeds grows every year. Xeriscape, not - zer o scape design that includes low water plants, native plants, and smaller lawn sizes is not only trendy, it's become smart gardening.

Butterflies will never be out of garden fashion and if I could influence anyone's choice of plants, I'd say choose plants that butterflies like for the full growing season. Bonus - many of the butterfly plant choices will be liked by other pollinators.

Steps to Create your own Butterfly Garden

First, make a list of butterflies you've seen in your garden and neighborhood. Try to write down what plants they are visiting too. If you're not seeing many butterflies around you, then you're going to have fun putting in new plants. Get going, fall is a great time to plant and you'll have a head start on next year's butterfly garden.

If you don't know butterfly names, here are some quick local reference links and information -
Butterflies and Moths of Colorado
Butterfly Families

Our colorful flying friends need and want what we want, well mostly - they don't need clothes with shoulder pads. They want food for themselves which means open sunny areas with lots of flowers for nectar - that sweet liquid that provides the energy source they need to get around. Some butterflies even prefer weed plants like dandelions and nettles.
  

Larva stage of Black Swallowtail on our dill

Butterflies also like certain plants to lay their eggs which become become larvae (caterpillar), then a pupa, then the adult - you remember the life stage from grade school. Mild alert - in the larvae stage there will be some eating of the host plant, no big deal - small price to pay for these small wonders.

Butterflies need protection on windy days, which can be provided with tall plants for shelter.  And a bit of water is always appreciated. We put out a shallow clay dish of water with rocks for butterfly perching and ease of sipping. Most days I find bees of some sort taking deep drinks - there's plenty for all!

Learn More

Below are links for nectar and host plants for common butterflies in our area, and other great information about specific butterflies.

Attracting Butterflies to the Garden

Colorado Hairstreak  Colorado State Insect

Painted Lady

Mourning Cloak

Two-tailed Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

MUST visit - Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, CO  

Here's a video of the large number of Painted Lady Butterflies that were so numerous last fall in the Denver area. They loved this agastache plant, so did Ferris.