One of the most effective – and fun – ways to turn your backyard into an attention magnet and make an enormously positive environmental impact is to establish a butterfly garden.
With just a few easy steps, your family and guests will enjoy the hypnotic effect of studying the butterflies and the plants that attract them.
In this issue, the San Diego landscaping professionals Juniper Landscape will explain the abundant benefits of butterfly gardens, and the essential necessities to establish one in your yard.
As they travel from one flower to another, butterflies provide an essential component to pollination, which in turn helps the development of the plant species.
Because butterflies prefer native plants, creating a butterfly garden is the epitome of sustainable landscaping. Because they’re native to the Southern California climate, the native plants in your butterfly garden will need fewer resources and maintenance.
Also, the combination of the colorful flowers and the butterflies themselves often stimulate a sense of environmental awareness and the importance of preserving habitats focused on nature.
Bright colors are essential in attracting butterflies to your garden, so the more color, the easier it will be for them to find your garden. It’s also important, though, to select plants that will provide the butterflies with nectar after they land.
Here are a few California native plants that are known to attract butterflies:
Even though most butterflies live for about 10-20 days, different species are active at various times throughout the year.
Because they’re cold-blooded insects, butterflies need plenty of sun in your garden. A good idea is to be sure your plants are in spots that will receive lots of sun in the early parts of the day.
It’s also a good idea to include plenty of hardscaping (rock, gravel, or brick) for butterflies to rest and warm themselves.
We love helping others to connect with nature, and our gardening experts can help you with designing your butterfly garden and selecting the best plants for it.
For more information about how our team can work with you, call Juniper Landscape Company at 619-334-9464 or you can reach us via email.