Butterflies

 “Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine.” ~Jeffrey Glassberg

Humans Need Butterflies -  Often unnoticed, they play an important role in maintaining the balance of nature and health of the living world. They pollinate wild plants and our crops, ensuring the production of seeds and fruits required for the continued survival of plants and animals, including humans. Due to their fragility to ecological change, butterflies are elegant indicators of ecosystem health.

Ecosystem Health -  Butterflies are a valuable source of food for songbirds. There are over 17,000 species worldwide – 7,000 of which are in North America alone.   They weigh as little as 2 rose petals, but they can fly worldwide. But their habitats are being threatened by deforestation and urban development. Because of this, there are many species that are beginning to become endangered and die away completely. 

What About A Butterfly Garden? -  A true butterfly garden should not just be designed to attract adult butterflies, but also to afford a place for them to hibernate and lay eggs and for the larva, or caterpillars, to feed. Different species of butterflies have different preferences in plants. The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no accident if you plan your garden carefully. The adult butterfly flitters from flower to flower - sipping nectar from many flowers in your gardens, while other adult butterflies search for areas to lay their larvae. By creating an atmosphere in the garden that offers shelter, food, water, and the fragrance the butterfly is searching for you will have butterfly garden success.