Kathy’s Gardening Guide: Butterfly Gardens

“Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness and still become something beautiful.””

Butterfly gardens are a beautiful and colorful way to attract butterflies into your landscaping!

When designing a butterfly garden, keep the following in mind:

■ Plant both larval host plants and adult nectar sources for butterflies in all stages of life.

■ Garden in full sun and partial shade.

■ Select a variety of plants that bloom at different times.

■ Use quality topsoil to ensure plants and flowers are enriched.

■ Include sweet-smelling plants, such as sedum and lavender.

■ Plant in groups. Butterflies are more likely to land in a bunch vs. a single plant.

■ Choose plants of mixing heights, colors, shapes and sizes.

■ Adding a shallow dish with water, rocks and even fruit will encourage butterflies to land.

Some of the most popular plants for caterpillars and butterflies: Butterfly bush, fennel, milkweed, lantana, pentas, purple passion vine, black-eyed Susan, porterweed, sage, gaillardia, firebush, sunflowers and more.

Flower of the Week: Gaillardia

Email Kathy at kathys.creative.gardens@gmail.com for any questions or gardening tips you would like to see in the future.

Kathy’s Creative Gardens & Nursery is located at 196 N. Roscoe Blvd. in Ponte Vedra Beach. (904) 655-7373.