As requested by one of our churches, here is how to create a Butterfly Garden. Attracting butterflies is very important, since we have lost many of them due to habitat loss, pesticides, and planting non-native plants not suitable for native butterflies.
Choose the right location. Ensure your location gets the right amount of sunlight for the flowers to grow.
Select flowers that attract butterflies. Fill your garden with 2 types of plants: nectar plants and host plants. Nectar plants: goldenrod, swamp milkweed, iron weed, Joe Pye, common milkweed, bee balm. Host plants: fennel, golden alexander, asters, lupine, coneflowers, coreopsis. Pick out different heights, since some visit tall plants; some prefer shorter.
Add a Bait Station. Besides flowers, butterflies are drawn to sugar & yeast based bait. In a dish, flat rock or stump, place rotting fruit (bananas, peaches, plums, apples), white sugar, molasses, beer.
Add a Puddling Station- water source. Fill a shallow dish with water, adding soil, sand or pebbles to create a watery mud.
Build/buy Butterfly Shelters. You can buy these or use a wooden box with a small opening.
Avoid pesticides, even organic ones.
Track your progress by keeping a log of what flowers you planted, what butterflies you’ve seen, any interferring pests. Plan for next year.
Visit this site to learn how to make a Monarch Waystation
Look also at the Rosalynn Carter Monarch Butterfly trail site for more information. Mt Lebanon UMC is a registered Stop win the trail. https://rosalynncarterbutterflytrail.org/product/rosalynn-carter-butterfly-trail-sign/
Thanks...great info!