BUTTERFLY GARDEN DESIGN PATCH

A shallow source of water, whether a bird bath or plate, will give butterflies a spot to rest and slake their thirst.вЂњin general,вЂќ says Coulber, вЂњmaintain your property in an earth-friendly manner, in part by avoiding the use of harsh chemicals and mirroring nature instead.вЂќ And a few simple elements can be added to a butterfly garden that will support both local and migratory butterflies, and will improve the likelihood that a large number of monarchs will visit and lay their eggs in your garden: Some of the monarchвЂ™s favourite blossoms are Canadian goldenrod (not to be confused with ragweed, which is the real allergy-culprit), wild bergamot, New England aster, black-eyed Susan, common yarrow and boneset.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN DESIGN PATCH

Plant species strategically so the patch is full of flowers throughout the entire growing season. Monarchs, and other butterflies, will flock to gardens with an array of blooms, especially if those blooms have been clustered together to draw attention to the plants. New England aster (Photo: Sarah Coulber/Canadian Wildlife Federation) Sweet, sweet nectarДЇor their all-liquid diet, adult monarchs, like many butterflies, prefer the nectar of brightly coloured flowers, usually in purples, pinks, yellows and whites (perhaps because butterflies have the widest visual spectrum in the animal kingdom). Butterfly weed, conversely, thrives in well-drained, sandy soil. Swamp milkweed, as its name implies, loves moister conditions with full sun, which is why it grows along riverbanks. Each of the milkweeds requires slightly different conditions to grow, well, like a weed, so bear these differences in mind when planting. Plant in the spring as soon as temperatures reach 15 C or warmer.Д¬ommon milkweed, especially, can spread aggressively, so it can be better suited to large plots than small urban spots. TheyвЂ™re easy to grow from seeds - mature pods can be collected in the wild in early fall, or seed packets can be purchased at certain gardening centres. These perennials grow in every Canadian province except for Newfoundland and Labrador. The milkweeds (plants of the genus Asclepias), include common milkweed, butterfly weed and swamp milkweed in Eastern Canada, and showy milkweed and green milkweed in Western Canada. It makes them foul-tasting and somewhat toxic to potential predators. Those eye-catching appendages are also warning signs: adult monarchs store the poison from the milkweedвЂ™s white juice in their bodies throughout their lives. At that point it forms a light-green chrysalis and hangs upside-down for another nine to 18 days before emerging with a fresh pair of wings. Once hatched, a monarch caterpillar will munch the plant unceasingly (and exclusively) for nine to 18 days, growing to 2,700 times its newly-hatched size.

Milkweed is crucial - in fact, the survival of this butterfly depends on its abundance. Butterflies rely on sunlight to regulate their temperature and for energy for flying and foraging.Д¬ommon milkweed (Photo: Sarah Coulber/Canadian Wildlife Federation) The only option for a growing monarch Start by identifying a sunny area thatвЂ™s also somewhat sheltered from the wind. вЂњA colourful patch of native and heirloom plants can delight you and your neighbours as well as provide critical food for resident and travelling butterflies.вЂќ Location, location, location Butterfly gardens in residential areas canвЂ™t supplant important natural habitat, вЂњbut even a small plot of native perennials will go a long way in helping monarchs and many of CanadaвЂ™s other butterflies,вЂќ says Sarah Coulber, backyard habitat program coordinator for the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Loss of breeding habitat due to urbanization, logging and agricultural development and the extensive use of pesticides and herbicides are major threats to the species. On its long journey it depends on the nectar of wildflowers for energy and fat, and the leaves of milkweed for egg-laying. The monarch butterfly begins its multi-generational migration between August and mid-October each year.

Butterfly garden design