Butterfly Garden

The newly reopened Bethune Insect Sanctuary (BIS) will feature several different insect habitats. One of them will be a butterfly garden. Many kinds of plants are good options for attracting butterflies. Some of them are listed below*.

• Day lilies
• Goldenrod
• Lilac
• Milkweed
• Mint 
• Pansies
• Sage

Milkweed is especially easy to grow and will almost guarantee the we attract monarch butterflies during their annual migration. Adult butterflies feed on the milkweed and females will lay their eggs on it. Once the larva have hatched, they too will feed on the milkweed and when they are ready, will find a place to pupate. After a couple of weeks the adults will emerge.

*The list above was derived from a longer list at the Farmer's Almanac.

Other sources are National Wildlife Foundation, and Better Homes and Gardens.