Butterflies are more than beautiful creatures; they are essential to flower pollination and are also an important food source for birds. To help butterflies thrive in your garden, you can do a few simple things. First, avoid using insecticides in your yard altogether. Second, plant milkweed flowers in your yard. Monarch caterpillars, for example, feed exclusively on the leaves of milkweed; over the past few years, milkweed has been decimated due to urban sprawl and suburban landscaping. Adding milkweed to your yard is easy: Just plant native varieties by seed in the spring and let them thrive.
ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION