Add a Ginko or Fern Near Butterfly Feeders

Nobody’s thinking butterflies just yet, but it won’t be too long! With several migrations underway, monarchs, swallowtails and others will be arriving soon. Their numbers are way down which is alarming to scientists, pesticides and climate change being key factors.

If you’d like to have these pollinators gracing your garden, here’s a few simple things to consider:

•Call it quits and abandon the use of any pesticides and herbicides.

•Plant native flowers and shrubs to benefit the flying jewels. Two-part, for food and hosting the chrysalis. A simple search on the web will reveal an abundant list of options for your locale.

•Leaf misters are mighty appealing to butterflies. They’re simple to install and even portable, your garden will grow lush too as a result of the gentle spray of water!

•Add butterfly feeders, in the form of nectar producing flowers, over ripe fruit, or an actual feeder that offers nectar via wicks. The wicks re-create the way butterflies use their long middle antennae to draw nectar from flowers.

•Butterfly Houses? Not so much, but they do look awesome in the landscape!

•Try a stoneware butterfly puddler for a cozy place to warm themselves in the sun.

Aside from an artsy garden accent, they can be used as feeders or easily transformed into a waterless pond by adding some sand and salts. The Ginko is a new puddler available for 2014 that features a rich texture and natural color. Both styles are complete with instructions for best use.

Help these flying jewels by creating habitat to lure and keep them around. Your garden and the butterflies will thank you!

Now if it ever greens up, we’ll get a cool shot of the new one actually being used in the landscape!