BUTTERFLY GARDEN
Plant some beautiful, purposeful flowers and help the butterfly population, too!
Butterfly gardens are so cool and beautiful! There is real excitement in our family each year as we expand our butterfly garden. Butterfly gardens are easy as long as you think about a few of the basics. Why make a butterfly garden? There are many reasons! Looking for butterflies in the summer is fun for kids and adults, and trying to spot different colored butterflies is so fun. Here is a Butterfly Scavenger Hunt Printable for finding different kinds of butterflies. Butterfly gardens also help other animals by increasing the insect population. We've noticed many of the butterfly flowers we have planted also attract hummingbirds which are fun to watch, too! But the main reason we continue to grow butterfly specific plants is to help the monarch butterfly population.
BUTTERFLY SCAVENGER HUNT PRINTABLE
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES POPULATION
You may have seen in the news recently that the monarch population and migratory path is in trouble. The numbers of monarchs have been decreasing but just this year there has been an increase for the first time since 2016. The increase is part of an effort by nature enthusiasts planting MILKWEED! Yes, milkweed and milkweed alone is so crucial for the monarch population. It is the only plant monarchs lay their eggs in and the only food source for monarch caterpillars. If as many people as possible add milkweed to their gardens, it can and already is helping the monarch butterflies get back to their earlier normal populations. If you would like to read more about this, here is a great article:
Western monarch populations grew over 100-fold in 2021. Why?
It is inspiring and tells that it's working, 100 fold! What will you need to grow milkweed? Milkweed likes full sun and it is best to grow in a somewhat open area, like a field so the butterflies can find them. They can be planted in spring from tubers and are even sold at Target! If you can, get a few so you can give them to other gardeners to help the monarchs have more options on their migration trail.
Western monarch populations grew over 100-fold in 2021. Why?
It is inspiring and tells that it's working, 100 fold! What will you need to grow milkweed? Milkweed likes full sun and it is best to grow in a somewhat open area, like a field so the butterflies can find them. They can be planted in spring from tubers and are even sold at Target! If you can, get a few so you can give them to other gardeners to help the monarchs have more options on their migration trail.
A monarch butterfly on a milkweed flower
Butterfly Garden Requirements
- Colorful flowers
- Fragrant flowers
- A landing spot
- A lot of sun
- A water source to mimic mud puddles (a little dish is enough)
Lilac or butterfly bushes are great for fragrance and butterflies can't resist
FLOWERS THAT ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES
- Lilac/butterfly bush
- Milkweed
- Black and bloom salvia
- Zinnias
- Lavendar
- Honeysuckle
- Thistle
- Sunflowers
RESOURCE WITH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
One of the best resources out there, on this topic is from the Oregon State University Wildlife Garden publication. The article, Create a Butterfly Garden has incredible and specific detail and tables to show which specific plants attract specific species of butterflies. An important point the article makes is:
"Butterflies are nearsighted and are attracted to large patches of a particular type of flower. If you want to attract a particular species, a large splash of brightly colored flowers of one species is more effective than several different colors or species mixed together. However, planting several kinds of good nectar-producing flowers usually attracts more species of butterflies." -Lamb, Chambers & Allen
It is an excellent read and can be read in full here:
Here is a monarch observation printable for older kids.
REAL CATERPILLARS
We love to buy the Painted Lady caterpillars and keep the butterfly house to reuse each year. It is such a fun activity and with each year, it gets more involved! If you have older kids, the painted lady observation page is great or try the butterflies coloring page which is great for all ages! The directions that come with the caterpillars kit make it so easy to become little scientists! The best part is when we release them into the butterfly garden! Sometimes they even land on the kids which they love.
PAINTED LADY CATERPILLARS
This is an excellent Butterfly house with caterpillars. The kit comes with everything you need and is as simple as can be.
Caterpillars refill (if you already have a butterfly house)
Don't forget to check out some of the best books out there about butterflies and metamorphosis! Here are our favorites, non-fiction and fiction.
TRY BUTTERFLY POSE FOR AFTER GARDENING RELAXATION
BUTTERFLY POSE
BUTTERFLY GARDEN PRINTABLES
IF YOU LIKED THIS, CHECK OUT...
POSE FLASHCARDS
GARDEN POSES
GARDENING WITH KIDS
OUTDOOR TOYS FOR KIDS
BEST SPRING BOOKS FOR KIDS
This post includes affiliate links which just means that YFK receives a small percentage of the sale at no cost to you. These links are only for products that I have used and highly recommend. Thank you for supporting YFK and reading Butterfly Garden. I hope that you have enjoyed this post and learned from it! I hope you are able to enjoy gardening with your children or students with warmth in your heart and a smile on your face. Sharing nature with kids is a huge passion of mine. The more kids are outside, the better the world will be. Please join the newsletter below for more activities, book lists, poses and more.
If you liked Butterfly Garden on Yoga for Kids, please like and share. Thank you for reading!
