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Whenever you decide to look for
a butterfly house for your flower garden, you first have to determine
what it is you actually want. A search for butterfly houses will
yield two different types. There is the type of butterfly house
that contains butterflies and their nectar plants. These type
of butterfly houses are actually structures created for the specific
reason of providing a safe and enclosed space in which to study
the butterflies.
It can vary from a playpen-size
for individual study to a medium-sized net-drapped area to large
green house-like structure for scientists' study. We even have
large enclosures open for public viewing, education and delight.
If you find this a delightful prospect to walk in a large "cage"
with hundreds of butterflies surrounding you, consult your local
museums and zoos for information. This being the information
age, check online too.
As part of your children's, or
your own, education, you may wish to raise some butterflies from
caterpillar in a small butterfly house. Live butterfly kits are
readily available and come with all you need to raise the caterpillar
to a butterfly, usually a Painted Lady. Of course you may be
able to collect the eggs from your own garden and raise them
in your own home for your education and enjoyment. Please find
a proper resource to guide you in this prospect if you should
choose to do so.
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You may also wish to create your
own butterfly house of this type in your own flower garden. This
can be done by means of mosquito netting drapped over an easily
portable structure such as a light weight greenhouse structure
or some type of tall stakes. Just surround whatever flowers are
providing the nectar source at the present time. Don't forget
the small puddles as water sources for the butterflies, too.
The second type of butterfly
house is actually a hibernation box. It is usually a tall, 6
inch diameter box mounted on a post which is then set into your
garden. |
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The front of the box has half inch
slots through which the butterflies can enter the house. The
front also swings open to allow you to place some twigs or, preferably,
some rough bark within the house. This allows the butterflies
a good gripping surface.
Place the box near some host
plants for the type of butterflies in your area. This will provide
incentive for the butterflies to lay eggs on the host plants
in your flower garden in the spring.
The top of the butterfly house
may be opened so you may observe the hibernating butterflies
and record the numbers and types of your hibernating guests.
If you are very lucky, on a warm winter's day, one of your guest
may actually step out of the butterfly house. If this occurs,
sugar water or home-grown flowers may keep it occupied until
the day starts to cool. At which time, the butterfly will make
its way back into the butterfly house in your flower garden.
© 2005, Sandra Dinkins-Wilson |
