You long for the flitter-flutter of butterfly wings and the gentle buzz of bees creating honey. You want to see birds flock to your garden like a Hitchcock flick and cats prowl the premises with ginger movements and contented purrs.
But all you’ve seen this summer is a lazy snail munching a leaf on your patio.
For a sunny garden with some pizzazz, it’s time to add some fauna to your flora. Even a few insects will do.
Admittedly, you don’t need a menagerie to rival Noah’s Ark. So let’s focus on one of the more aesthetically appealing insects to see in the summer – the butterfly.
Despite essentially being coloured moths, everyone has a space in their heart for these wonderfully patterned creatures.
Butterflies are, however, notoriously difficult to attract to your garden. Unless you live near their natural habitat (woodland or chalky grasslands) the common butterfly won’t venture near your grounds.
So you’ve got to catch them before they’ve even become butterflies.
Attracting caterpillars
According to plant biologist expert Ken Thompson, caterpillars are attracted by these plants:
- Holly and Ivy
- Brassicas
- Crucifers
- Grasses
- Sorrel
And if you’re looking to get passing butterflies hooked on your garden, introduce plenty of nectar into the environment. Whether it’s a Monarch or a Large Heath, butterflies will flock to places where they can nab some nectar.
Gardens are endless sources of enjoyment for flora and fauna. You can never hope to harness the variety of flowers and creepy crawlies to their fullest extent.
Perfect ground maintenance can help. When you plan your garden, maintain the balance between aesthetic beauty and practical methods to attract the right insects.
Just don’t plan too many pull factors for insects – you’ll soon be swarming with the blighters!
