The Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth recently offered some suggestions to turn your garden into a powerful lure for attractive butterflies.

Among the suggestions:

• Choose plants that provide food for the caterpillars as well as those flowers that are good nectar sources for the adults.

• Organize your garden into groups of plants rather than a polka-dot of many types of plants. Adult butterflies find it much easier to locate the larger groups of plants and therefore will find their stay more rewarding.

• Place the caterpillar-food plants where you won’t mind the eaten foliage; it may seem unattractive to some. Use masses of the same plant tucked away from the main viewing area.

• Provide sun, shade, water and protection from the wind. Different areas of your garden can be used for these diverse needs—be imaginative and use some of the shrubs that are either favorite butterfly flowers or are caterpillar food plants for windbreaks.

• Pesticides kill butterflies and caterpillars, and the residues can linger for days to weeks, so if you have insect problems, look for alternative controls.  

For more information, call The Urban Forestry Center at 603-431-6774.