Happy Earth Day! While the world is quite different today than it has been on previous Earth Days, today mark’s the 50th anniversary of this annual day to honor our planet. We hope you find ways to celebrate while social distancing and offer some suggestions here. For our Tip of the Week we want to draw your attention to the butterfly. The butterfly is a powerful symbol of life representing endurance, change, hope and life. These are all very relevant thoughts for the time that we want to spread on this day!
As you are planning your garden this season, consider incorporating plants that will attract butterflies. Butterfly gardens are not only beautiful and smell good, but are also a good way to help boost the butterfly population and add more pollinators to the ecosystem. Here are some tips to to start your own butterfly garden:
- Butterfly gardens can be any size, so don’t worry about space. They can be as small as a window box!
- Learn what butterflies live in your area, and plant what they like to eat. Use https://www.thebutterflysite.com/gardening.shtml for an extensive list of what butterflies are native to each state, and the best plants for them.
- Plant a variety of plants. Some plants are “nectar plants,” and are butterfly food. Others are “host plants,” and provide shelter. It is best to plant both for a beautiful and effective garden.
- Make sure your garden has enough water. “Puddling stations” are small areas of moisture for butterflies to drink out of, so provide your garden with enough moisture to create these stations.
- Plant your garden in a sunny spot. Butterflies are cold-blooded and get warm in sunlight, and the plants in your garden will also benefit from being in a sunny area.
All of these steps will lead to a beautiful sanctuary for butterflies to feed, and will also make your garden full of life.
Co-written by Isabel Lieberman (Class of 2021) and Amy Kadrie (Sustainability Coordinator)
Photograph by Cathie Moog 2016