Butterfly Gardens

The following was provided by the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture

Information about butterflies 
Life cycle, basking, puddling, hibernation, migration, glossary of butterfly terms
Video: The Magic School Bus: Butterfly and the Bog Beast
Video: Amazing Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly

Common butterflies in Kentucky 
Photos, plant hosts, habitats

Plants you will need

• One butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight')

• Four goldenrods (Solidago canadensis 'Golden Wings')

• Two joe-pye weeds (Eupatorium maculatum)

• Three New England asters (Aster novae-angliae 'Alma Potschke')

• Three ornamental cabbages (Brassica oleracea)

• One dill (Anethum graveolens)

• Five parsley plants (Petroselinum crispum)

• Eight globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)

Click here for descriptions and photos of plants.

Directions

The garden should be approximately 10 feet by 12 feet. It should be in full sun at least six hours a day. Provide fruit such as bananas and watermelon as an additional food source. Provide water sources for "puddling" by burying two pans filled with sand. Place a few sticks and rocks on top of the sand, and fill the pans with water. Provide two low containers filled with dark rocks for butterflies to warm themselves. Include a hummingbird feeder in the garden.

Sample garden design