Tips for Planting a Butterfly Garden

• First find out which species of butterflies visit your area and include the specific host plants for these butterflies in your garden.

• Use nectar-rich flowering plants, such as asters, pentas and salvias to provide food for adult butterflies.

• Group plants together to create a mass of color This will help butterflies find your garden.

• Always have some nectar plants in bloom to provide food for the year-round butterflies such as the zebra longwing.

• For maximum enjoyment, place your garden where you can observe the butterflies from inside your home as well as outside.

• Place your garden in plenty of sunshine. Plant shrubs and trees nearby to offer a hiding place for butterflies.

• Don't use pesticides. They kill butterflies and their caterpillars. Allow nature to take its course. Remove pests by hand or use a strong stream of water to eliminate.

• To conserve resources, group plants with similar water, soil and light needs together