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Things you’ll need:  a small or large garden area, a butterfly house (looks much like a bird house with slits instead of entry holes), variety of flowering plants, bushes and trees, resources for learning about your local butterflies and host plants.

 

Paint your butterfly house-butterflies are highly attracted to vivid colors so paint your house with bright non-toxic paint.  Be sure one of the inside walls has tree bark tacked to it so the butterflies entering your house looking for shelter can cling to it.

 

Choose the location-the butterfly house should be mounted about 4 feet off the ground and placed in a sheltered shady area close to flowering plants.  Also consider ventilation because butterflies need air at every stage in their life cycle.

 

Plant the area-butterfly gardens can range from a few containers placed in a sunny spot to several acres.  Pick colorful flowering plants that give off a strong scent.  Butterflies drink the sweet energy-rich nectar of these plants.

 

Host plants-generally  butterfly attracting plants include azalea, black-eyed susan, butterfly weed, french marigolds, asters, milkweed, coneflowers and zinnias.

 

Study up on the butterflies common to your area and the plants that they prefer.  Butterflies lay their eggs on host plants and the emerging caterpillars will eat them.  Visit other butterfly gardens, botanical gardens and  nurseries because the more you know the more successful your butterfly house will be.

 

Depending on your climate butterflies may use your house for migratory rests or non-migrating butterflies may shelter there for the winter.  It’s a good idea to clean the house once a year with clear water but don’t if you suspect your house has guests.

 

No chemical pesticides-pesticides kill fragile butterflies, caterpillars and other useful insects. It is extremely important that you do not use pesticides or herbicides in your habitat around your butterfly house.  It is also a good idea to wash your hands before you handle any host plants.  Caterpillars are especially sensitive to bacteria, nicotine, household cleansers and other residues on your skin. Plant marigolds, petunias and mint instead which naturally repel pests.

Now sit back and enjoy the show!!