Gardener and naturalist Louise Hallberg's mother first planted butterfly-friendly flowers in their garden decades ago, and now Hallberg's nine acres in Sebastopol, California, represent a registered sanctuary for dozens of butterfly species. To attract butterflies to the garden, says Hallberg, it is sometimes necessary to make unusual plant choices. She recommends taking these steps:
- Understand that butterflies start out as eggs, then become caterpillars, and then move into a chrysalis (not a cocoon!) and become butterflies. The caterpillars and adult butterflies have very different food needs, and both must be met.
- Adult butterflies lay their eggs directly on the food source that the caterpillars will require, so that source should be made readily available in the garden--even for those who usually consider such plants to be weeds. Here are a few examples:
- Monarchs eat milkweed.
- Painted ladies lay eggs on thistle.
- Purplish coppers favor sorrel.
- Grow just about any nectar plants--trumpet vines to day lilies to bergamot--for adult butterflies, which will drink from any of them.
- Plan to have at least one nectar plant variety blooming from February through November, because adult butterflies need nectar during all these months.
Guests Louise Hallberg
Gardener / Owner, Hallberg Butterfly Garden
8687 Oak Grove Ave.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Phone: 707-823-3420
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