Butterflies are always welcome visitors in the garden. They fly in, sip a little nectar, then fly on. You can encourage them to stay, however, by growing plants that both butterflies and caterpillars like to eat. And now you can invite them onto the deck or patio as well. Make a container garden "restaurant" just for them! Here's how:
Materials:
- a large container or pot at least 18" in diameter (a terra-cotta pot is used here)
- butterfly bush (Buddleia, Zones 5-10)
- sea lavender (Limonium, Zones 3-9)
- blue fescue (Festuca ovina 'Glauca,' Zones 3-9)
- parsley (Zones 1-11)
- sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritime, Zones 1-11)
Steps:
- Begin with the buddleia, the largest plant. Tap the bottom of its container to loosen it, then pull it free.
- Fluff or scrape the roots to loosen them from the root ball; this will allow them to expand after transplanting instead of continuing to grow in a circle as they did in the pot.
- Position the buddleia along one edge of the large pot and nestle it into the soil. Pack the soil in firmly around the plant.
- Continue planting the remaining plants around the edge of the pot, working from largest to smallest. (Be sure to pack soil firmly around each plant.) Angle them outward for a bushy, cascading look.
- Wait for the plants to bloom, then watch for butterflies!
Guests Kathleen Brenzel
Senior Editor,
Sunset Magazine
80 Willow Rd.
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3591
Phone: 650-321-3600
Toll-free: 800-227-7346
Fax: 650-327-7537
Website:
www.sunsetmagazine.com
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