Having a backyard is a wonderful thing, and when you have the opportunity to landscape it in a way that hinders the environment, it becomes something even more special. There are many ways to aid your local environment with your backyard but one of our favourites is creating a butterfly sanctuary.
A butterfly sanctuary in your backyard could help prevent extinction to certain butterfly species. These beautiful creatures are dying across the world due to loss of habitat and pesticides used to kill other insects.
You don’t have to retransform your entire backyard to make a butterfly sanctuary, it can happen with just a few plants, a windbreak, some warmth from the sun and a bit of shallow water for the butterflies to drink from.
If you want to attract butterflies to your backyard you want to plant special plants like milkweed. Milkweed is a host plant for monarch butterflies, and the only type of plant that their caterpillars like to consume. Monarchs will want to place their eggs in the plant and will be drawn to the milkweed in your yard in the spring because of the sweet smell. Milkweed is actually critical to the survival of the monarch butterfly!
Please note that Milkweed is actually poisonous to humans, and if you have children in your home, we would strongly recommend you chose a different plant. Milkweed is used by Monarchs because the substance they eat from the milkweed makes them toxic to birds.
There are other popular plants that attract butterflies – you can read about them here!
It is important to build shelter from wind for the butterflies, which is why bushy plants are very important. The wind will keep butterflies away from your garden, and you can’t have a butterfly sanctuary without the butterflies!
Sunlight is important as butterflies like to sit in the sun, warming their wings. Water must be shallow so they can sip from the puddles.
Creating a butterfly sanctuary can be incredibly easy by adding some plants, a bit of water, sunlight, and a break from the wind, with some amazing benefits.
Leave a Reply