Planting a pollinator garden
First of twoThere are good reasons to plant a garden for pollinators. Loss of natural habitat due to development, increased use of pesticides, GMO crops and the quest for weed-free lawns has caused decline in butterfly and bee populations.In addition to providing a natural, pesticide-free environment for these insects, my experience is that planting and maintaining a pollinator garden is fun and rewarding.I have always enjoyed watching butterflies in my garden. About nine years ago, I decided I wanted to provide a garden to specifically meet the needs of pollinators. Although I have many types of gardens on my property, the pollinator garden is my favorite.When planning a pollinator garden, choose a site that receives at least six to eight hours of sun daily and has a backdrop of small trees or shrubs to provide protection from wind. For a formal garden, plan a square or rectangular shape; an informal design can be rounded.First prepare the site by removing the weeds by hand; no chemicals should be used in a pollinator garden. If the area was previously lawn then cover the grass with newspaper, compost and peat moss and let this sit over the winter, or cover the entire area with black plastic for four to six weeks.When the site is ready, you can add a layer of garden soil and begin planting.Preparing your garden plan on paper or using a computer program will make installation easier. A simple rule is that the tallest plants go either in the back or side edge of the garden. Work forward planting by height, with middle height plants in the center and the shortest plants in front.Knowing the nectar and host plants for each butterfly you want to attract is essential when making plant choices. The host plant is one on which the butterfly will lay its eggs and that the emergent caterpillar will feed. Nectar from flowers provides food for the adult butterflies.Many butterflies have evolved along with very specific host plants.The best known connection between butterflies and their host plant is the Monarch, which lays its eggs on milkweed, the only plant this caterpillar will feed from. Monarch caterpillars will survive only on Asclepias species, which, in our area, includes common milkweed (A. syriaca), butterfly weed (A. tuberosa) and swamp milkweed (A. incarnata). Once the caterpillar has pupated into an adult butterfly, it will dine on available flowers and even fruit.My pollinator garden is arranged in a series of raised beds. I plant each variety in mass so they are more visible from a butterfly vantage point. One raised bed is planted with common milkweed. These milkweeds take two seasons to bloom, but the Monarchs will use even the young plants to lay their eggs.
I fill in empty spots around the milkweed with Zinnia, an annual, and a favorite nectar plant for many butterflies.This past July and August, I had over a dozen Monarch caterpillars feeding in the 4-foot-by-4-foot area where the milkweed is planted. The caterpillars stayed in the area for several weeks then left to find a more secluded area to form their chrysalises.Once you have your plants in place, add a water feature such as a bowl buried partially in the ground and filled with mud, stones and water. This and a few flat rocks to provide warmth for butterfly basking will make your garden even more desirable.Once the hard work is done, place a bench in your pollinator garden so you can enjoy the company of your insect visitors.Next week: More information about local butterflies, along with their host plants and nectar sources.
