The list may vary a bit based on the type of butterfly. Overall, you can’t go wrong with my top ten list. . .
Top Ten List:
1) Host Plants – different butterflies like different host plants. For example, zebra swallowtails like pawpaw trees and monarch like milkweed.
2) Nectar Bearing Blooms – butterflies in PA are definitely attracted to butterfly bushes for food. Also, swallowtails love fennel. Bottom line is that you should plant a variety of flowers that are native to your area – the more the merrier!
3) Moisture or Puddler Stone – you can put sand and then water in a shallow area such as a puddler stone or a muffin tin.
4) Fruit – butterflies love to extract the moisture from fruit such as watermelon
5) Butterfly House/Hangout – you can purchase a butterfly house or provide a stack of wood for butterflies to hang out in.
6) Butterfly Identification Books – it’s helpful to know what monarchs visit your area.
7) Butterfly Artwork
8) Butterfly Jewelry
9) Camera – you definitely want a camera that takes action shots of butterflies!
10) Membership to a live butterfly museum – I’ve been to two butterfly museums – one in Key West and the other in Tucson.
