By Jeanne Brown
Butterfliesseem to be the most beautiful, magical creatures — floating effortlessly andgracefully drifting among the flowers. Now that the long, cold winter is over,you can share the pleasure of watching these colorful creatures with your kidsby planting a butterfly garden in your own back yard
Plants that AttractButterflies:
Clethra “Hummingbird” has white flowers thatsmell like honey. It blooms July through August and attracts Brush-footed(American Snout), Gossamer-wing (Hairstreak), and Swallowtail butterflies.
Monarda, also called Beebalm, haspink, purple or red trumpet flowers that bloom from May through September. Itattracts bees, hummingbirds, and clear-wing moths as well as Brush-footed(Fritillarie), Skipper, Swallowtail, White (Checkered), and Sulphurbutterflies.
Trumpet Honeysuckle, also called Woodbine andCoral Honeysuckle, has red, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from Marchthrough June and berries in the fall. It attracts hummingbirds, clear-wingmoths, and Gossamer-wing (Spring Azure) butterflies.
Sedum, a cactus relative alsocalled showy stonecrop, has flowers in shades of pink. It blooms once in latein late summer/fall and has many small flowers with nectar for butterflies todrink. It attracts Brush-footed (Monarch, Painted Ladies, Pearl Crescent, andFritillaries), Gossamer-wing (Gray Hairstreak), Skipper (Silver-SpottedSkipper), White, and Sulphur butterflies.
Aster, with its daisy-likewhite, purple, lavender, pink, or red flowers, blooms from August throughOctober. It attracts Brush-footed (Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Pearl Crescents,Viceroys, and Snouts), Gossamer-wing (Eastern Tailed Blues and Spring Azures),Skippers, Whites (Cabbage), and Sulphur butterflies.
JeanneBrown ([email protected]), Environmental Editor for FAMILY magazine andcommunications specialist, encourages all parents to teach their children howthey can make a difference in protecting our planet.
