How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden

Like animated flowers, butterflies add color and motion to your garden. Here's how to make them feel welcome.

From Householder's Survival Manual

• Plant flowers that have the type of nectar butterflies love, such as butterfly bush, verbena, sedum, zinnias, Mexican sunflower, and lantana.
  
  
• Butterflies are sun lovers. (They can't fly when temperatures dip below 50°F.) They like to warm themselves on large flat stones that get morning sun.
  
  
• Don't use pesticides. Chemicals that kill harmful insects will also kill the insects you want to attract.
  
  
• Keep the site sheltered. High winds damage the gossamer wings of butterflies. Tall shrubs provide a windbreak and shelter for other wildlife as well.
  
  
• A butterfly house makes a lovely accent. Be sure to place them in sunny spots near flower beds and sheltering shrubs or bushes.