Birds, Bees, Butterflies & Beyond...

Backyard gardeners should not limit themselves to the pursuit and cultivation of hybrids and and rare plant species.  Many of the simplest forms, those varieties which also occur in the wild, offer the best sources of food and nectar for the wildlife we may seek to attract.  With a little planning and forethought, a suburban landscape can become an oasis for birds, bees and butterflies.  Yes, bees, too (especially our early, native mason bees) deserve consideration in the creation of such an area.  They perform the cross-pollination so necessary to the production of fruit, vegetables and ornamental berries on such plants as hollies. 

Water, the most basic element, is provided at regular intervals for the survival of our landscape specimens.  It is just as necessary for the survival of backyard wildlife.  Water is a strong attractant for birds, butterflies and other wildlife, a necessary element particularly during the long, hot days of summer.  If you water with a sprinkler or have children who enjoy playing under a sprinkler, you’ll notice increased bird activity while it’s running.  They’ll bathe, drink and generally cavort under the falling water droplets.  Even bees and hummingbirds will drink from the remaining droplets left behind, after the sprinkler’s been turned off.  Consider a combination fountain/birdbath... the moving water from that recirculating pump will lure a wider variety of birds and pollinators to your landscape.  Any other static birdbaths in the general area, will also receive more visitors.  Remember to keep birdbaths clean and sanitary with daily scrubbing. 

Mud-puddling?  An activity in which butterflies indulge on a daily basis.  If space permits, maintain a shallow mud puddle, as many butterfly species will obtain moisture from the edges, without putting themselves in danger.  They’ll also obtain essential minerals from these areas... you may wish to maintain a saucer filled with soil, sand or even small stones and water... set it on the picnic table and observe those butterflies up close.  In nature, mud puddles are frequented between 10 am and 2 pm, by young males looking for mates.

Any birdbaths, whether on the ground (provide shelter from cats and/or hawks) or mounted on a pedestal, should be shallow, with gradually sloping sides for ease of entrance of exit.  This is especially true for hummingbirds, who also frequent birdbaths.  While much of their liquid intake is the form of nectar, water makes up the balance of the moisture they consume, a total of about eight times their body weight.  Low birdbaths and shallow pools will attract a variety of wildlife, including frogs, toads and turtles.

The rising interest in water gardening is adding yet another dimension to wildlife gardening.  A young friend of mine recently established a water garden comprised of several pools, with water recycled between the two, over a bed of stone.  Water hyacinths and water lilies grace the larger pool.  Gradually, the wildlife is moving in.  A few insects were observed frequenting the area.  Several days later, a frog had taken up residence.  He now seems to have a mate, as two frogs were observed leaping from a lily pad the very next day.  A fascinating experience for anyone, an invaluable teaching aid for the budding young naturalist.     

Imitating Nature...

Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery.  We who garden, often fancy ourselves backyard naturalists.  We’re aware of the benefits derived in encouraging nature to share our environs... identifying birds and mammals, learning firsthand about their food and shelter preferences and enjoying the natural pest control that so many of our local wild inhabitants provide.  However, those of us who admittedly garden “on the wild side,” must take the good with the bad, as we hold open that garden gate and invite native wildlife to share the fruits of our labors.
Butterflies: Nectar-rich flowers, water, sun, shelter and reproductive areas ~ to enjoy the grace and beauty of butterflies, these few basic requirements must be met.  Providing water and minerals through mud-puddling, we’ve discussed.  A critical component is the role plants play in the whole butterfly life cycle, from larvae to adult phases.  The list are long and specific, each species having favorite nectar plants for the adult and favorite host plants fed upon by the caterpillars.  Maintaining large swaths of wildflowers, like milkweed (for monarchs) and Queen Ann’s Lace or wild parsley (for swallowtails) will provide larval food for the caterpillars of our Eastern MA butterflies.  Cultivating nectar-rich shrubs, vines, annuals and perennials will draw in the adult butterflies.

Remember that butterflies are seeking nectar sources, as they drift high above your gardens, so mass plantings, or at least groupings of favorite, colorful nectar plants, will prove most effective at drawing their attention... providing a sort of landing strip.  Generally, composite flowers (like asters & daisies) and umbels (like wild carrot & parsley) provide the perfect, stable landing platform.  Such landing areas are essential, as butterflies cannot hover very long.  Butterflies prefer to visit swaths of flowers with strong colors such as orange, yellow, and purple. Since they view the environment through polarized light in the ultraviolet range, they are able to see hidden ultraviolet patterns on the petals which guide them to the heart of the nectar source.  Along with color and shape, the fragrance of the flowers is a strong attractant.  The most heavily perfumed flowers appeal to the sensitive sense of smell that butterflies possess. Although showy in the garden, many of the newer hybrids and double flower forms do not offer a significant source of nectar. 

A few of the preferred nectar sources of adult butterflies (species-dependent)... Shrubs such as honeysuckle, lilac, butterfly bush (Buddleia), sweet pepperbush (Clethra), rhododendron, and viburnum.  Perennials that attract adult butterflies include: coneflower (Echinacea), Stokes aster (Stokesia), pincushion flower (Scabiosa), mint, liatris, butterfly weed (Asclepias), daises of all kind, lilies, daylilies, coreopsis, phlox, bee balm (Monarda), sedum, heliopsis, gaillardia, nepeta (catmint), alliums, lantana, sweet alyssum, candytuft, zinnias, lavender, fleabane (Erigeron), delphinium, asters, black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), perennial ageratum (Eupatorium), verbena and veronica.  Among the many wildflowers that provide food sources for adults are milkweed, dandelion, clover, goldenrod, thistle, asters, eupatorium spp. (Joe-Pye weed, boneset), fleabane and yarrow. 

You might consider bringing the butterflies closer to patios and porches, where you can observe them in detail... many of your hanging baskets and patio plants will attract them, as will butterfly nectar feeders.  However, individual butterfly tastes do vary and certain species actually prefer to partake of manure piles, tree sap, carrion and rotting fruit... probably not something you’ll want to include in your outdoor entertainment areas. 

Butterfly reproductive areas must provide very specific larval food sources.  The adult butterfly has to be  choosy about where she lays her eggs... even more selective than she is when selecting her favorite nectar producing plants.  She must select larval food sources that possess the correct chemical make-up, that provide the necessary fuel for the metamorphosis from caterpillar to adult butterfly.  Including the right host plants in large quantities is the most important step, and often the most overlooked, in creating a butterfly garden. Caterpillars have voracious appetites and will perish, before they reach metamorphosis, if there is not enough larval food available. These host plants provide shelter for all stages of the butterfly life cycle.

Larval Host Plants ~ Trees and shrubs: aspen, dogwood, oak, elm, sassafras, cherry, hawthorn, poplar, blueberry, spicebush, viburnum and willow offer a good source of food for the larva. Plant these to diversify the larval food supply: globe thistle, hollyhocks, beans, cabbage family, lupines, pipevine, snapdragons, yarrow and members of the carrot family, such as parsley.  Wildflowers are great larval food sources: encourage milkweed, butterfly weed, thistle, nettle, violet, plantain, asters, dock, clover, turtlehead, pearly everlasting, mustard, Queen Anne's lace, vetch, meadowsweet and grasses. 

Warmth is very important and stones (walks, walls, etc.), properly placed, will hold vital heat, as will south-facing wooden fences.  For those species that overwinter as adults, consider mounting a butterfly box in a warm, sunny area to provide a convenient, predator-proof roosting spot for the hibernation period.  

Wondering what butterflies may frequent your backyard?  Go to this Massachusetts Butterfly Species List for great photos.  For more info, go to The Butterfly Atlas from Mass Audubon.  Trying to ID a caterpillar?  Try “The Caterpillars of Massachusetts” Photo Gallery by Sam Jaffe.

Hummingbirds may be easier to attract than you realize.  Like butterflies, they are sensitive to color stimuli and, like butterflies, are constantly searching for plants rich in nectar.  Trumpet vines, red salvia, hanging baskets of fuchsia... just some of the plants which draw them into the landscape.  Once there, they’ll discover and partake of other, less colorful nectar sources.  Special feeders, which provide sugar-based nectar, may prove an additional attractant.  Be sure to hang such feeders out of direct sunlight and maintain good sanitation.

To the gardener with many gardens to be tended, the presence of abundant backyard wildlife can be disruptive.  Are you a compulsive, addictive identifier of all that surrounds you?  Can’t go for a walk in the woods without camera, binoculars, magnifying glass and about half the Peterson and Audubon field guides ever written?  Well, I was filled with resolve, my task set out before me.  So, I hunkered down and commenced weeding what remained of my vegetable patch, after Chucky (our elderly, bachelor woodchuck) had his way with the chard, beans and peas.

I tried my best to ignore the sights and sounds of a peaceful Sunday morning.  I’m not sure if it was the raspy cries of the belted kingfisher, the squawking the green herons, the enormous yellow butterfly or the unfamiliar black and orange frog hopping across my hand as I weeded (perhaps all of the above), but the dedicated gardener morphed into the amateur naturalist.  Laden with my usual ID paraphernalia, I crouched at the edge of the hill, amidst mosquito-infested grass, to begin my silent watch and was rewarded with glimpses of the great blue heron, small green herons, bitterns and a black-crowned night heron (usually appears in late afternoon).  Herons and bitterns are wary creatures and invariable “freeze” to avoid discovery... head pointed upward, with only a roving eyeball to indicate they are aware of our presence.  Gradually, they relaxed and resumed their furtive search for food hidden deep within the murky depths of “Lily Pond.”  With lightning quick motion, the green heron would consume one hapless victim after another, as he stood balanced with each foot on a lily pad.  Obviously, I find these little backyard sojourns enjoyable, educational and even inspirational.  Time spent in such a manner is never wasted.

While I may curse the mosquitoes which make gardening almost impossible at times, I bless our large swamp with its lily pads, aquatic plants and insects, and wild, wooded slopes - home to countless species of plants and animals.  Peaceful, vegetarian muskrats foraging along the shore in early evening for roots and vegetation... including onion grass.  Flickers, several types of woodpeckers, redwing blackbirds, catbirds, mockingbirds, innumerable sparrow species, finches, cedar waxwings, warblers, robins, blue jays, cardinals, Baltimore orioles, Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed hawks, crayfish, water striders, painted turtles, nesting wood ducks and mallards, frogs, bullfrogs, toads, newts, salamanders... I’m sure I’ve left out somebody!  We can learn a lot about peaceful co-existence by observing nature in all her glory and wisdom.  

For a real treat and yet more butterfly information, click on the following links to these 2007 ‘GardenAuthor’ posts ~ where over the course of several days, we posted the complete metamorphosis of a Monarch butterfly...

1.) Magnificent Monarchs

2.) Monitoring the Monarch

3.) The Metamorphosis

4.) Maiden Flight

©Deb Lambert 2011