If it were possible for every person to won a tree and to take care of it, the good results would be beyond estimation L.H. Bailey

Perhaps the most beneficial way an urban homeowner can help wildlife is to create a backyard wildlife habitat. Your backyard can be beautiful as well as being attractive to wildlife. Any yard, large or small, can be improved to attract more wildlife. The most natural and economical way to do this is by selecting the right plants. Nectar-seekers, such as hummingbirds and butterflies, require flowering plants, which provide nectar.

As with any long-term project, the best way to start is by planning your garden. Determine what wildlife is presently using your yard and decide those, which are likely to frequent it. You can create suitable habitats and garden designed specifically to attract butterflies; all it requires is a little careful planning to include favored blooming plants. Even planting a few important shrubs will help. You will benefit from many hours of watching these creatures visit your yard.

Five Steps for Success:

1. Decide how much time, expense and effort you want to invest in your butterfly habitat project. A successful habitat will require more than one season of planting. Howe much area will be devoted to butterflies? These considerations need to be resolved to give you the direction for a successful project.

2. Know how to manage plants. There are two methods of managing plants to attract butterflies. One is to provide favorites nectaring blooms. The other is to include preferred larval food plants to nourish the caterpillars. This second method is optional, but provides far better results. By providing larval food plants and nectar blossoms, you increase your chances of attracting butterflies.

3. Know what you have. You can only expect to attract butterflies that already exist in your area, so begin by identifying the butterflies sighted in your yard and list the plants they visit. Field Guides are very helpful with identification.

4. Know the feeding requirements of caterpillars. Larval food plants are important for female butterflies to lay eggs on. Young caterpillars require specific plants to feed on. In order to encourage caterpillars by supplying food plants, it is important to know specific plants and where they should be placed. This is not as difficult as it sounds; some butterflies require only a weed patch to rear their young. Field Guides can give you the basic information you need to start your project.

If you are interested in attracting butterflies to your garden, but are worried that it may be a large and complicated procedure, relax! Gardening is for peace of mind. Your escape for the work and worries of everyday life. This is just another part of your garden. Nobody is going to grad your work, and there are no deadlines. Read and observe from your favorite chair, site in your garden, and look around you as you tend your plants. Attracting butterflies is a step-by-step process and covers any time period you choose. There are many plants that can help you:

Shrubs:

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
Caryopteris
Beauty Bush
Syringa
Viburnum
Bush Clematis

Perennials:

Catnip (Nepeta)
Lavender
Shasta Daisy
Asclepias
Aster
Yarrow
Iberis
Liatris
Veronica