Friday, May 6, 2011

Need A Butterfly Magnet...?


I had an old farmer tell me one time that having a lot of butterflies around your yard or garden meant that it was healthy!

In keeping with that thought, I found a list over at the Farmer's Almanac that supposedly contains a number of plants that attract butterflies. If you have some of these plants, you should be in good shape. If you don't...but want to attract some, then maybe this list could help!

It's obvious: Butterflies and flowers were made for each other. As the poet pointed out, butterflies are flying flowers, and flowers are tethered butterflies.

In attracting butterflies to your garden, it's important to understand what they want most out of life: nectar. The ancients, who believed that nectar fell directly from heaven, named it after the wines of the gods. A butterfly's wish list also includes sunny open spaces, shelter from the wind, and fresh water.

For a nectar-rich flower border designed to satisfy these requirements, consider the plants listed below. Then invite a few butterflies over for a drink.

Beard tongue
(Penstemon)

Bee balm
(Monarda)

Butterfly bush
(Buddleia)

Catmint
(Nepeta)

Clove pink
(Dianthus)

Columbine
(Aquilegia)

Coral bells
(Heuchera)

Daylily
(Hemerocallis)

Larkspur
(Delphinium)

Desert candle
(Yucca)

Flag
(Iris)

Flowering tobacco
(Nicotiana alata)

Foxglove
(Digitalis)

Lily
(Lilium)

Lupine
(Lupinus)

Petunia
(Petunia)

Pincushion flower
(Scabiosa)

Red-hot poker
(Kniphofia)

Scarlet sage
(Salvia splendens)

Scarlet trumpet honeysuckle
(Lonicera sempervirens)

Soapwort
(Saponaria)

Summer phlox
(Phlox paniculata)

Verbena
(Verbena)

Weigela
(Weigela)

Here around my own garden, I've only seen a couple of butterflies...but I have to admit that I don't have any of these plants on the list! Guess I need to get some, huh?

What say we get some fresh coffee and sit outside before it gets too hot? The weather guy says the cooler weather is gone and HOT is on the way!

19 comments:

  1. And milkweed will attract Monarch butterflies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, good thing I haven't gotten rid of the "weeds" butterflies like. Now wonder I have them around.

    It's 43 degrees here this morning, so my cup of coffee is necessary. Nothing like it on a cool morning.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Momlady...
    Guess I should have known about the milkweed, but I didn't!

    Just when I think I know it all...!

    Hey, thanks for the visit today!


    Hey SixBears...
    Good excuse...I mean, reason not to mow 'em down!

    I always knew that those weeds had a purpose!

    Thanks, my friend, for coming by today!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the list I have some of those flowers already but I would like a few more. You can buy some for your mom for mothers day to go along side that new porch swing. :)
    We are at 66 this morning so our cold spell is over I think. We get up to about 74 in the afternoon perfect weather.

    ReplyDelete
  5. When i did my landscaping, did it native, n to attract butterflies n hummingbirds. So instead of putting up the feeders, i used flowers. Well, flowering bushes n shrubs mostly. Even have a mimosa tree. Works.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey JoJo...
    I think the butterflies mostly come here for the roses!

    I have a few flowering hanging plants on the patio that they check out as well!

    You have a great day, and thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!


    Hey Trouble...
    That's what I should have done to Mom's yard! I really hadn't planned to be here all that long when I came, but after the health problems (hers) I stuck around!

    Still, maybe I can get a few to show up!

    Hey, thanks for coming by today!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I actually have most of those in my garden :-) But thistles are great to attract butterflies too but not that funny to have inn the garden though :-) :-)

    Have a great day now!
    Christer.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi! This post could not be written any better!
    Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
    He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him.
    Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
    Also visit my page ; van nelle

    ReplyDelete
  9. I blog often and I genuinely appreciate your information.
    This great article has truly peaked my interest.
    I'm going to book mark your website and keep checking for new details about once a week. I subscribed to your Feed too.
    Here is my web-site ; Alanya leiligheter til salgs

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in fact used to be a leisure
    account it. Look complex to more introduced agreeable from you!
    However, how can we keep up a correspondence?
    My web blog :: asuntoturkista.net

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting
    for your next write ups thanks once again.
    Here is my web blog :: bostaditurkiet.net

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello, I desire to subscribe for this website to
    obtain hottest updates, therefore where can i do it
    please assist.
    Look into my site - propertyinturkeyforsale.net

    ReplyDelete
  13. Excellent post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed!
    Very helpful information particularly the final part :) I handle such information a lot.

    I used to be looking for this certain info for a very long
    time. Thank you and good luck.
    Stop by my weblog ; Koti Antalyasta

    ReplyDelete
  14. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say
    that I've truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I'll be subscribing
    for your rss feed and I am hoping you write once more soon!
    My webpage :: immobilien kaufen bodrum

    ReplyDelete
  15. Does your site have a contact page? I'm having problems locating it but, I'd like to shoot you an e-mail.

    I've got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.
    Here is my weblog skin bleaching cream

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's not my first time to pay a quick visit this web page, i am browsing this site dailly and obtain good data from here everyday.
    Check out my website mac baren

    ReplyDelete
  17. If you are going for best contents like I do, just pay a quick visit this web page everyday since it provides feature contents,
    thanks
    My webpage - rid of

    ReplyDelete
  18. Pretty portion of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog
    and in accession capital to say that I acquire in fact loved account your weblog posts.
    Any way I'll be subscribing on your augment and even I success you get entry to persistently fast.
    Also visit my blog post ; rosacea acne

    ReplyDelete
  19. I like the helpful information you provide to your articles.
    I will bookmark your blog and test once more here frequently.
    I am quite sure I will learn plenty of new stuff proper right here!

    Best of luck for the following!
    my web page > acne kit

    ReplyDelete