Lilly Browning, Hernando County Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program Coordinator, conducted a workshop called Gardening for Pollinators- Butterflies Wednesday, October 5 at the West Hernando Library in Weeki Wachee.
Browning explained the importance of butterflies and their contribution to our environment as well as what plants are desirable for attracting butterflies to your garden. Butterflies are pollinators just like bees, birds and moths. They transfer pollen from one plant to another, which helps produce fruits and vegetables as well as other flowering plants.
The life cycle of a butterfly may only last a month, but keep in mind when creating your butterfly garden that you will need host plants and nectar plants to ensure they have the necessary food sources. In turn you will be able to witness their life cycle and enjoy the fluttering beauties you helped nurture.
The host plant is where the butterfly will lay her eggs. Flowering plants like Black-Eyed Susan, Nasturtium, and Shasta daisy have bright colors which butterflies are attracted to. Herbs, grasses, vines and trees are also excellent hosting plants. The hosting plants are essential and a food source for the caterpillars.
The nectar plant is food for the butterfly. Plants like the buttonbush, thistle and lantana are a great source of nectar as well as the butterfly bush, passion flowers and flowering dogwood.
Once you have your selection of hosting plants and nectar plants, choose a sunny location. Within that selection of plants you may choose to add a place for the butterflies to sun. Fill a large clay saucer with sand and rocks and mist with water as needed.
Nature Coast Gardens is another place to stop by to check out their variety of hosting and nectar plants in their butterfly garden this can help you choose plants to begin you butterfly garden. The garden is open daily from dawn to dusk and the nursery is open Monday and Saturday from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
The Hernando County Master Gardener Nursery has a great selection of butterfly plants to choose from as well. The Hernando County Master Gardener Nursery is located at 19490 Oliver St. in Brooksville. Residents can purchase Florida-Friendly plants on Wednesdays from 8:30am – 10:45 a.m.
Browning gives several workshops throughout the month on various topics at our local libraries. You can check our library calendar weekly to look for these upcoming workshops. Lilly Browning’s next workshop will be a rain barrel workshop on 10/19/2016, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM at the Spring Hill Branch Library. Call (352) 540-6230 for registration and required prepayment process.
You can Contact Lilly Browning at (352) 540 – 6230 or Lilly.Browning@co.hernando.fl.us for more information on butterfly gardens or any upcoming workshops.