How To Create A Garden That Attracts Birds And Butterflies

Most gardeners dream of having a garden that is a sanctuary for birds and butterflies. They add so much color and interest! It is not difficult to create a haven for birds and butterflies.

Birds

Not only are birds wonderful to look at, but they also feed on insects that are bad for the garden. Three elements will ensure birds come in to your garden – food, water and cover. Plant trees and shrubs that provide berries, seeds, nuts, small fruit and nectar and the birds will come. Native plants are generally the best as the birds will recognize them. Deciduous plants supply the most nuts, berries and seeds and will attract abundant wildlife. Evergreens will provide berries and seed-filled cones as food for birds. Sunflowers will attract birds if you allow the deadheads to fall, spilling their seeds. Hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers so if you want to have hummingbirds in your garden, plant plenty of red blooms.

Try and provide plants that offer food sources throughout the year, to keep the birds coming back. Provide places for cover for birds and if possible, reduce the size of your lawn. Lawns look unfriendly and bare to birds, offering no food or shelter. You may wish to have a bird-feeder in your yard, filled with seeds purchased from the nursery. Don’t forget a water source for your birds. Shallow pools such as bird baths are good.

Butterflies

These beautiful creatures are welcome in any garden, but you need to accept their caterpillar state before you can expect butterflies! Attracting butterflies to your garden means offering food sources for caterpillars as well.

Butterflies are attracted to the colors of white, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and blue. Plant your flowers so they get plenty of sun – butterflies love the sun. Mass plantings are necessary as butterflies are short-sighted. They will be attracted to a vivid display of flowers.

Butterflies love nectar-rich blooms, especially the butterfly weed and butterfly bush. The black-eyed Susan will also welcome butterflies as will goldenrod, daisies, pansies and verbenas. Butterflies like a flat hot rock to rest on, and they also like muddy places to get moisture and minerals. Herbs and vegetable gardens will provide feeding places for the caterpillars. Parsley, celery and carrots foliage is popular among these crawling insects! Perennial and annual flowers will provide food for caterpillars as well as wild flowers.

Your garden will become a haven for birds and butterflies if you provide them with food sources, plenty of sunshine, shelter, water and muddy places. Keep your garden free from insecticides and these welcome fliers will help keep some of your insect pests at bay, as well as giving you wonderful entertainment.