BUTTERFLY GARDEN

PLANTING A

BUTTERFLY GARDEN

photo from our butterfly garden - 6/16/99

Margaret Wells and Janice Catledge

Alice Harte Elementary

Summary

You can create a butterfly garden in your backyard or schoolyard and enjoy the beauty of butterflies all year long.

Subjects and Grade Level: Science, Math, Art, Language Arts/ All ages

MONARCH - TIGER SWALLOWTAIL - SKIPPER - CLOUDLESS SULFUR - BUCKEYE - FRITILLARY - ADMIRAL - VICEROY - SNOUT - SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL -

To create a butterfly garden you must plant host plants and nectar plants. Butterflies will only lay eggs on certain host plants. You must also plant nectar plants that all the butterflies will visit for nectar.

BUTTERFLIES

OF LOUISIANA

Host Plant: Fennel, Parsley, Queen Anne's Lace

Host Plant: Passion Vine

Host Plant: Butterfly Weed and Other Milkweeds

Host Plant (Sulphur): Candelabra Plant, Partridge Pea

Host Plant (Spicebush Swallowtail): Camphor, Sassafras, Tulip Poplar, Spicebush

Host Plant: Willow, Plum, Cherry

Find more information about these and other butterflies throughout the United States at the following website:

Butterflies of North America

Nectar Plants

Purple Coneflower, Buddleia, Petunia, Zinnia, Verbena, Lantana, Marigold, Milkweed

These plants as well as others listed on the website below provide nectar or food for many different butterflies. The photo of the milkweed was taken in our garden.

Butterfly Nectar Plants

Helpful hints:

Do NOT use insecticides on Butterfly Garden or where wind can carry to garden.
Plant garden in bright sunlight protected from strong wind.
Provide water source (such as birdbath, bowl of wet sand, pond)

Below is an example of a butterfly garden from the Burpee's seed catalogue. Plants in garden are Lady in Red Salvia, First Lady Marigold, Profusion Orange Zinnia, and Starbright Mix Zinnia. Burpee Gardens Vegetable and Flower Seeds

Objectives

To develop skills necessary to become independent inquirers about the natural world.

To encourage the dispositions to use the skills, abilities, and attitudes associated with science.

To develop understanding of life cycle of butterflies.

To investigate characteristicsof organisms and their relationship to the environment.

To encourage collaborative attitude in study of science.

To enhance the study of science through many curricular areas.

Activities

The butterfly garden offers a wealth of activities for discovery for students and adults.

Research types of plants suited for the area. One possibility is to visit an established butterfly garden in your area.
Evaluate soil-type (sandy, clay, etc) and pH. Raised beds are good possibility.
Decide on plants to be used.. Be sure to include host and nectar plants

Establish a budget Research price and availability of plants, soil, mulch, gardening tools, edging materials such as timbers or rocks.

Measure and lay out area to be planted Allow space for mature plants.

Design placement for plants. Remember short plants need to be in the front and tall in the back or sides. Think of color combinations.

Invite a guest speaker (knowledgeable parent, nurseryman, representative from your area extension office.)

Hold dedication for completed garden. Contact newspaper and television stations. Have students write invitations.

Collect caterpillars and observe metamorphosis. Be sure to feed the caterpillars host plant leaves. Discuss body parts of butterflies.

Participate in tagging monarch butterflies and follow migration in fall and spring.

Journey North 1999

Monarch Watch : Dedicated to Education, Conservation and Research

Monarchs Migration to Mexico

Dissect parts of flower and label parts.

Assessment

Have students write daily journal about Butterfly Garden.

Maintain class list of discovered Internet sites and other resources.
Use check list to evaluate students' ability to effectively use measuring instruments.
Have students write one and two step word problems about Butterfly Garden. Have other students solve and evaluate.
Have students work in groups to make presentations about layout for Butterfly Garden. Evaluate design of garden using rubric developed by students.
Use Venn diagrams to compare parts of caterpillar and butterfly

Margaret Wells and Janice Catledge in butterfly garden

References

Children's Butterfly Site

Opler, Paul A., Harry Pavulaan, and Ray E. Stanford. 1995. Butterflies of North America. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm (Version 09APR99).

Xerces Society,/Smithsonian Institution, Butterfly Gardening: Creating Summer Magic In Your Garden., The Xerces Society, Portland, Oregon 97204.., 1990.

Mitchell, Robert T., & Herbert S. Zim, Butterflies and Moths, Rev. ed, New York: Golden Press, 1985.