Butterfly garden. How do you attract colourful visitors to your garden?

Butterflies are some of the most beautiful insects we can come across in our garden. Their presence should please us, as they not only beautify our space, but are also a sign of a healthy ecosystem. They are among the key pollinators; it is thanks to them, among other things, that we have fruit and vegetables. What can you do to attract them to your plot or garden? 

Butterflies are attracted to plants that offer both nectar and suitable conditions for laying eggs. When planning your garden, it is a good idea to choose plants that flower at different times of the year, providing a constant source of food for adult butterflies. Some popular plants that attract butterflies are:

• David's budleja, also known as butterfly bush,
• coneflower,
• levconia,
• rudbeckia,
• lavender,
• sage, 
• mint,
• dahlia,
• lily,
• heather.

Simply choosing the right plants may not be enough to make your garden the most attractive address for butterflies in the area. What else can you do? 

1. Provide access to water - butterflies, like other insects, need access to water. This can range from flat bowls of water to ponds or pools. It is advisable to include stones, twigs or, in larger basins, e.g. nenufars for butterflies to perch on.
2. Avoid pesticides - chemical pesticides are responsible for poisoning butterflies, both through direct contact with the pesticides on the plant surface and, in the case of butterfly caterpillars, by eating the leaves of the plant that was sprayed. In addition, pesticides can affect neurological disorders, which can manifest as disorientation, problems with flying and difficulty finding food.
3. Provide shelter and a place to rest - butterflies need shelter from wind and rain. We can, for example, build or buy a butterfly house. There the butterflies can also wait out the winter and the females can lay their eggs.

With these few simple tips, you can attract butterflies to your plot or garden and enjoy the presence of these beautiful insects. It is well worth the effort to create a real butterfly paradise for them. Remember that any change, even a small one, in your garden can have a big impact on the local ecosystem.