Monarch Butterflies

Every year I am visited by butterflies, and every year I am reminded of how important it is to plant a little extra for them. When summer comes and everything prickly and crawly thrives, I give up on tomatoes and vegetables and all the practical things I could grow. Instead, I plant wildflowers. And so, from my shaded tree, I watch the bees and butterflies dance blissfully from bloom to bloom. It seems to me that I have gained more from planting wildflowers than I ever would have by planting tomatoes, or the like. Instead of the fuss of maintaining vegetables, I gave a soft place for little ones to land. And that is enough to fill my soul.

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How to Attract Monarch Butterflies

To attract Monarch Butterflies all you need is wildflowers. However, to get them to stay in the area, you’ll need a milkweed plant. Milkweed provides Monarchs with the food they need as caterpillars and shelter for their cocoons during their transition week.

• Wildflowers: For wildflowers, I usually plant Zinnia and Black Eyed Susan seeds. However, any wildflower seeds will work just fine.
• Milkweed: My favorite milkweed plant for Monarchs is the Butterfly Weed. It is a fast-growing perennial with a beautiful firecracker for a bloom.