We love Alaska in summer – the gorgeous colors, the fields of flowers, and the vibrant sunshine all beckon us out to the most beautiful days of the year. If you want to add even more interest, color, and beauty to your personal home and property, how about a butterfly garden? You can start with the floral professionals at Bagoy’s Florist & Home.
Butterflies are found throughout Alaska, from sea level to towering mountaintops. Some butterflies visit our state this time of the year, while others are native. The nectar of flowers is food for butterflies, and providing an abundance of these will ensure that your butterfly garden is the most popular spot in the neighborhood. Butterflies can get sustenance from most flowers, but each species has its preferred blooms, which are generally plants native to the region.
Because of a butterfly’s delicate wings, they are highly susceptible to being harmed by winds. Create a space that is wind protected – such as a trellis covered in vines and flowers, or high hedges. The butterflies will learn that not only is your area colorful and bright, and filled with nectar – but it is safe for them to gather. What types of flowers are best for our Alaska butterfly species? Shown above, both sunflowers and goldenrod (also called solidago) are highly attractive to the insects. Violets are also irresistible to at least 6 varieties of butterfly, while asters, daisies, thistles, nettles, and grasses will be welcoming as well. There are many choices – for more ideas, come talk to us.
Mud Puddles for Butterflies? Butterflies enjoy mud-puddling, an activity that allows them to collect water, sodium, and other nutrients from moist sand or soil. You can attract even more butterflies by creating a “mud-puddle”, either by filling a birdbath with water and sand, or burying a clay pot and filling with the same.
A butterfly garden can be an extravagant creation or can consist of a few lovely plants clustered in a sheltered area. One suggestion we do love – set up a comfortable seating area nearby to enjoy your lovely visitors. If you are interested in making a butterfly garden, or simply want to fill your back patio with gorgeous flowers to match the weather – Bagoy’s Florist & Home is the perfect place to start. We love flowers, we love Alaska – and we love helping our Anchorage area customers to enjoy it all to the fullest.
