By Jane Lake Butterfly gardening is not only a joy, it is one
way that you can help restore declining butterfly populations.
Simply adding a few new plants to your backyard may attract
dozens of different butterflies, according to landscape
designers at the University of Guelph. Butterflies, like
honeybees, are excellent pollinators and will help increase your
flower, fruit and vegetable production if you provide them with
a variety of flowers and shrubs. They are also beautiful to
watch, and are sometimes called "flowers on the wing." - Begin
by seeding part of your yard with a wildflower or butterfly seed
mix, available through seed catalogues and garden centers.
Wildflowers are a good food source for butterflies and their
caterpillars. - Choose simple flowers over double hybrids. They
offer an easy-to-reach nectar source. - Provide a broad range of
flower colors. Some butterflies like oranges, reds and yellows
while others are drawn toward white, purple or blue flowers. -
Arrange wildflowers and cultivated