“Hello, my name is _________. I live down the street at _________. I’m interested in starting a butterfly garden and would love any tips you might be able to share. My contact info is _________. Thank you!”
Join butterfly/bee/wildlife/native plant garden groups on social media or create your own.
If you are able, join the local native plant society and the North American Butterfly Association’s local chapter.
Our favorite books on the subject are written by Douglas Tallamy: Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants; and Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard, and anything written by Ginny Stibolt, starting with A Step-by-Step Guide to a Florida Native Yard. Check out online blogs, ask questions on social media sites. If you prefer to get your information by listening, YouTube has lots of informative videos available like this one.
Happily, plants that attract insects like butterflies and other pollinators will beautify your garden as well. Birds will be attracted to a garden full of insects, and you can add in plants that offer seeds and berries as well. Now that you are familiar with the growing conditions in your garden, you can use an online tool provided by such organizations as the Florida Native Plant Society or the Institute for Regional Conservation to narrow down options for your garden and its site conditions. Check your local native plant society for a similar tool.