Art in the garden: Butterflies, hummingbirds are welcome company in the garden
Among the wildlife that make their home in the garden, none are more welcome in my landscape than butterflies and hummingbirds. They are lured into the garden by a wide variety of annuals, perennials, shrubs and vines. Besides plants, they need sunshine, water, shelter, and places for nesting and feeding their babies.
Flowers that attract hummingbirds are usually red, but can be other colors, too. They are rich in nectar and tubular shaped — a shape that prevents other nectar feeders from stealing all their nectar. Flowers that are attractive to hummingbirds include bee balm, columbine, coralbells, trumpet and honeysuckle vines, petunias and salvias. Salvia Black & Blue is the hands down favorite of the hummingbirds in my own garden.
Select flowering plants with different bloom times to keep a constant supply of nectar available.
Plants that provide nectar are just one source of food for hummingbirds. They also eat small bugs they find on flowers or in spider webs. They can also catch small insects while in flight.
Hummingbirds drink water from shallow birdbaths, dew on leaves or the mist from a sprinkler.
They like to take cover and nest in the branches of dense shrubs. Plant nectar-rich flowers close by so hummingbirds don’t have to expend as much energy flying back and forth to their food source.
Put up supplemental feeders to ensure food when flowers are not in bloom. Red feeders put out the welcome mat. Make sugar solution at home or buy a prepared mix from your local garden center. Do not use honey or red food dye.
Butterflies are similar to hummingbirds in their needs. Flowers that attract butterflies are generally sun-loving plants.
They prefer flowers in shades of red, purple, yellow, orange and white. Butterflies love flower clusters made up many small flowers, but will also visit large flowers.
There are many flowers that are favorite nectar sources for butterflies including heliotrope, verbena, zinnia, coreopsis, liatris, phlox, and purple coneflower.
Butterflies need sunshine to warm their bodies to 85 to 100 degrees so they can fly. They sun themselves, with wings open, on rocks, deck railings or dark-colored shrubs in the morning. Butterflies fly easier on calm days; wind causes hazardous flying conditions.
Surrounding a sun-drenched garden with trees and shrubs creates the environment preferred by most butterflies.
Female butterflies will seek out specific plants for laying their eggs. Monarchs look for plants in the milkweed family; swallowtails search for fennel; painted ladies look for hollyhocks. Other larval food sources include asters, snapdragons, dill, parsley, dogwoods, lilacs, and willows. These plants provide food for young caterpillars.
Puddles provide water and minerals for butterflies.
Include some plants in your garden for hummingbirds and butterflies and they will bring life to your summer landscape.
Ÿ Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter’s Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040 or visit planterspalette.com.