Butterfly gardens charming addition to summer

Butterfly gardening is an easy and fun way to add some color to your summer.

Observing butterflies, much like bird watching, is an enjoyable pastime that is becoming more and more popular.

Unfortunately, many natural butterfly habitats are being destroyed by urbanization and agricultural development. To counteract this, programs have been put into place to aid in developing new butterfly habitats, including some in the Midwest.

The University of Kansas' Monarch Watch is active in monitoring monarch butterfly flight patterns and making new habitats for these monarchs, said Stephen Spomer, a research technologist in University of Nebraska-Lincoln's entomology department.

At the international level, Spomer explained that in New Guinea, butterfly farms are becoming common ways to reverse damage inflicted by logging companies.

"They raise and sell butterflies, and then the money they make is used in restoration projects for new butterfly habitats," Spomer said.

It is also common to see zoos with butterfly gardens, as well. Some zoos are even getting involved with taking in endangered insect species, said Dale Lindgren, extension horticulturist at UNL.

UNL experts say everyone can help in creating new butterfly habitats. Butterfly gardening does not only add life and color to a garden, but also creates new areas for butterflies to enjoy. Several conditions can help lure the insects to a garden.

The plants that attract butterflies are most often a food source, a nectar source or both. Keep in mind that the nectarous plants that attract butterflies will also attract bees and wasps, so be wary of stings.

The most attractive plants to butterflies are known as butterfly bushes and butterfly milkweed, Lindgren said.

The bushes are in shrub form, while the milkweed is in herbaceous form - making it easy to choose the proper plant not only to attract the butterflies, but also be attractive when placed in your garden.

Many herbs also are alluring to butterflies. Dill is a common herb known for attracting butterflies, Lindgren explained.

Planting your butterfly garden out of the wind is necessary for attracting more butterflies, he said. The butterflies will enjoy a calm area to rest.

If herbs and bushes will not fit into your garden, regular flowers will work as well.

Flowers with large blooms and bright colors attract butterflies easily. Also, planting masses of the same plants will attract more butterflies, since there will be more nectar available at one stop.

Keeping up with your garden with simple tasks like dead-heading, or removing the dead flower heads, will keep butterflies coming to the area you've prepared.

Unfortunately, in the hot Nebraska weather, there has been a decline in the number of butterflies visiting butterfly gardens. Stomer credits this downturn to the current draught.

"I have a butterfly garden and I've hardly even seen them, even on the butterfly bushes," Stomer said.

Stomer predicts with a couple years of rain, the population of butterflies will be back to normal.

Even with the lack of a large number of butterflies, butterfly gardens can still provide an appealing spot for butterflies moving through Nebraska.