It's a sparkling summer day, and in the flower garden in the front yard the butterflies have arrived: Monarchs on the zinnias. White admirals on the purple coneflowers. Fritillaries on the black-eyed Susans. It's a magical sight, but it's really no surprise. Attract these gentle visitors by planting precisely the types of nectar-producing flowers that butterflies love.

As it turns out, butterflies are easily attracted to yards and gardens. Plant their favorite flowers in a protected yet sunny spot. The first step isto find a site for the butterfly garden, ideally one that received at least six hours of sun a day and offered shelter from the wind. When choosing the perfect spot make sure there is wind block nearby like a protective picket fence, a nearby row of shrubs or evergreen trees--or even a rock.

Next, decide what flowers to plant, use garden books that have a Top 10 list of nectar-producing varieties that would keep a flock of butterflies happy. Plant five annuals ( i.e. ageratum, impatiens, marigold, zinnia and cosmos) and five perennials ( i.e. coreopsis, butterfly weed, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan and bee balm).



Find out which butterflies live in your area to help you determine which flowers you should grow (look for a guidebook at your library or nature center). Also, choose plants with the nectar needs of adult butterflies in mind; butterfly larvae, or caterpillars, eat the leaves and seeds of other plants and herbs, such as milkweed, pussy willow, violets and dill. If you grow these as well, you may encourage visiting butterflies to breed and lay eggs.

Finally, time to get down and dirty: dig up the turf, prepare the bed and set in the young plants (see Making a Butterfly Garden). Soon you've created a garden with the butterflies needs--as well as your own--in mind.