A Butterfly Garden for Children 

 
  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24192&id=100001048277096

A Beautiful Monarch Butterfly - Arvind Balaraman FreeDigitalphotos.net

Children are fascinated by nature. What a great way to learn about the lifecycle of the butterfly by helping to create their own butterfly garden.

 

 

 

Some Butterflies and their caterpillars are considered pests in the garden but the gardener who appreciates beauty will want to encourage butterflies that pose no great risk. The garden can become a haven for protected and native butterflies. Give the children an interest in nature and provide exciting learning opportunities with a colorful butterfly garden at home.

Gardeners Tips for Creating a Butterfly Friendly Garden

• Most butterflies lay their eggs on plants that are in full sun, so choose a sunny location.
• The caterpillars need plenty of food. Have a large amount of their favourite food plant in the garden.
• Butterflies eat the nectar of plants. Have a good mixture of native and exotic plants.
• Nectar is more accessible to butterflies in single blooms. Avoid double blooms and plants with ruffled petals.
• The color of a flower makes a difference. Butterflies are attracted to red, orange, yellow, and purple flowers.
• Butterflies find it easier to sip from upright flowers.
• Do not use toxic sprays and chemicals in the garden. Try some natural methods for pest control.
• Butterflies need a sheltered spot away from strong winds.
• Butterflies are cold blooded so need to sun themselves. Place smooth rocks around the garden. The rocks will warm up during the day to provide a nice basking place for butterflies.
• Provide shallow saucers of water or make a natural rain puddle for butterflies to sip from.

Monarch Butterflies

A good starting point for a butterfly garden is the beautiful monarch butterfly. Children will love to watch the caterpillar as it progresses to chrysalis and then butterfly.