Bird & Butterfly Perennial Garden
- A garden or habitat that attracts wild birds will provide food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. These can be easily provided as part of a perennial garden. Adding the necessary elements will create a haven for birds.
- Creating feeding stations with bird feeders will offer food. A bird bath provides water for feathered guests. Locating a perennial garden close to trees provides shelter. If the garden cannot be located near trees, put up bird houses for specific species of birds to provide shelter and a place to raise young.
- A garden to attract butterflies should provide the same elements that attract birds--food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. Butterflies will make themselves at home in gardens that provide for all of these needs.
- For butterflies, food is provided in the form of nectar plants. Nectar plants for butterflies can be a combination of perennials, annuals, shrubs, herbs and wildflowers. Water can be provided to butterflies in the form of a puddle. Fill a bird bath or a dish on the ground with sand and rocks then enough water to cover the sand. Shelter can be provided for butterflies in the form of shrubs or trees where butterflies can rest and hide from predators. Host plants that butterflies can lay eggs on should be included in any butterfly garden.
- Perennial choices will matter more to butterflies than birds. Butterflies will search for nectar and host plants that are specific to their species, while most birds will be more interested in bird feeders provided in the garden. Hummingbirds, though, will be attracted to plants that have tubular-shaped flowers. Examples of perennials that attract both birds (most specifically hummingbirds) and butterflies would be butterfly weed, cypress vine, morning glory, trumpet vine, penstemon, bee balm, columbine, foxglove, hollyhock, jewel weed and red hot poker. Certain perennial wildflowers may serve several purposes. Thistle attracts butterflies to feed, provides a host plant for certain butterfly species and is a nesting plant for small birds like goldfinches.
Perennials that serve as both nectar plants and host plants for butterflies should be included in a perennial garden for birds and butterflies. Milkweed provides nectar for several species of butterfly, but for the Monarch butterfly, milkweed is a host plant for females to lay eggs on and young caterpillars to feed upon. Once you determine the species of butterflies that are found in your area, choose perennials specific to those butterflies.