We’re giving away a $500 gift card to use toward a beautiful butterfly garden, courtesy of American Plant and The Capital Home and Garden Show, CLICK HERE TO WIN!

The Capital Home and Garden Show is February 22 - 24 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia.  Featuring appearances by Justin Cave of HGTV’s Ground Breakers and hundreds of experts for all your home and garden needs! Buy tickets online and save $3 at www.capitalhomeandgardenshow.com.
 

American Plant a family-owned environmentally responsible garden centers, provide superior plants, products, knowledge and services for our customers and community.  Visit www.americanplant.net.

What you need for a successful Butterfly Garden:
Nothing adds excitement to gardens as much as the dance of the butterflies on a summer’s day.   In order to set the stage for our colorful friends you will need lots of sun loving, long blooming perennials and annuals for nectar, mass the varieties together so they can be seen from afar.

Nectar plants that are easy to grow in our area include: Asters, Black Eyed Susan, Butterfly Weed, Lavender, Marigolds, Lilac, Red Bud, Coneflower, Rosemary, Verbena and Hibiscus.  Butterflies drink from puddles, a birdbath top placed on the ground filled with gravel and topped off with water works well.  Our friends roost from dusk till dawn and on rainy days so add a few shrubs for shelter and shade.  Provide a sunny spot for basking they need warmth in the morning hours.   Lastly you will need a food source for the caterpillars, herbs like parsley, dill and fennel work well.