Cait's Garden

We gardeners work hard to attract butterflies to our yards. I sometimes judge the success of my garden by the number of butterflies I see. But times seem to be hard for our butterfly friends. Although I am planting more and more flowers to entice them, I see fewer and fewer. Usually only a couple of monarchs, a couple of viceroys, and the occasional yellow or black swallowtail. The monarchs hit the milkweed, while the swallowtails prefer the phlox. All of them like coneflowers and buddleia. (I’ve also discovered the monarchs are the most camera shy…and they like to chase sparrows!) I wish more people would plant native flowers to support these amazing creatures. I fear one or two butterfly-friendly yards on each block are not going to bring back the butterflies in the numbers we hope for. We need a serious wildflower infusion throughout our neighborhoods, not just in the occasional park.