Looking for an activity that will spark children's interest in nature? Try this butterfly garden project suggested by host Mayita Dinos. Butterfly kits (readily available in most nature stores) make observing the life cycle of the butterfly very easy. This is an ideal project to help children learn respect for nature and develop an interest in gardening and/or the outdoors. Simply purchase a kit, then carefully follow the steps outlined below:
- Caterpillars are needed to start the kit; these can be ordered through the mail or collected from the yard and kept in a jar. After seven to 10 days, each caterpillar will shed its furry coat and form a cocoon called a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillars go through a metamorphosis to become butterflies. While they are in their cocoons, take the lid from the jar or the paper disk from the kit (the cocoons will be attached to this piece) and move it into the butterfly tent.
- The butterflies will emerge in about a week. Once they are out, create a sugar-and-water mix on which they can feed; simply mix 2 teaspoons of sugar with 1 cup of water. Then soak the cotton feeder from the kit in this mixture and place it in the center of the paper flower inside the tent. To make it more like a real garden, decorate the tent with leaves and flowers from the yard.
- After a few days, it will be time to release the butterflies. A butterfly garden will encourage them to stay nearby.
- Plant bright, fragrant flowers in the yard, keeping in mind that butterflies are generally attracted to sweetly scented flowers in hues of purple, blue, orange, yellow, white, pink and red. Show children how to plant the flowers, then allow them to complete the garden. The butterflies will soon flock to the garden to enjoy the abundant nectar.
- Release the butterflies into the garden.
