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Hello.  I'm always looking for new ways to attract more wildlife into my small city garden and this year I'm hoping to increase the number of butterflies and moths.  I already have plenty of Ivy, Lavenders, Honesty, Pansies, Primroses, Sweet Rocket, Buddleia, Daisies, Sedum, Oregano and Thyme and this year I'm adding Cuckooflower and Garlic Mustard.  I draw the line at Dandelions and Nettles (sorry) and Buckthorn, Hop and Holly are out of the question.  I can't let the 'lawn' go wild as it's my path but I was wondering if it might be worth sowing some grass seed in an old window box which is about 60cmx15cm in the hope of encouraging some to breed.  Would this work?

G x

Hi Georgie,

Not suitable for your window box, but if you can squeeze in a few verbena bonariensis ( they're tall & skinny so not hard to squeeze in) you will attract lots of butterflies - I've even had hummingbird hawk moths on mine - a truly memorable sight.

Cheers

Hi Froglets and thanks.  I've already got a few verbena bonariensis in my border but I hadn't noticed that it particularly attracts butterflies - or maybe they can't get near due to all the bees?   ;)  What I'm really after is something to encourage breeding.  I envy you your hummingbird hawk moths: I've seen a few elephant hawk moth caterpillars on my Fuchsias so perhaps I'll be lucky this year.

G x

 :)Hi Georgie, I think growing grass seed in a window box is worth a try, I've grown Lady's Bedstraw from seed (Suffolk herbs) in a tub , its the food plant of Hummingbird Hawkmoths, and other Hawkmoths,

I have photographed 13 different species of butterfly on verbena bonariensis, it grows like a weed on my lottie, butterflies also love dahlias and zinnias

I let the grass grow under my fruit trees and get lots of Speckled Wood butterflies which love dappled shade,

I leave a patch of grass so butterflies can lay their eggs and ladybirds can hibernate.

I grow purple loosestrife in my garden which attracts bees and Holly Blue butterflies, you could also try everlasting flowers which attract butterflies and damselflies/ hope this helps/ shades xx

Thanks Shades, that's really helpful.  I'm a big fan of Suffolk Herbs so I'll certainly get some Lady's Bedstraw with my next order (I'm sure I can squeeze some in somewhere).  I've got some grass seeds so I'll pop them in the old window box which I can put by the shed in dappled shade.  But as for the Dahlias and Zinnias I'm afraid they'll have to whistle, not my cup of tea I'm afraid.   ;D

G x

 ;D Hi Georgie, they are not my favs either, but believe me they are a magnet for bees and butterflies at the lottie, I will post a picture in the gallery for you ;)

If you would like a pinch of Lady's Bedstraw seed pm me,it will save you buying some :)/ shades x

Quote from: angle shades on February 05, 2008, 19:08:00
If you would like a pinch of Lady's Bedstraw seed pm me,it will save you buying some :)/ shades x

Awww that's very kind.  PM on its way.   ;D

G x

Oh!  Your inbox is full.   :(

G x

Sorry! is that better :)

Shades your inbox is full again!  Thank you very much for the seeds which arrived safely today.  I'll post the sweet rocket seeds tomorrow.   :)

G x

 :)  pleased the seeds arrived safely Georgie,/ shades x

The two best butterfly attracting plants I have both at home and at the lottie are the 'Sungold' Buddleia (a hybrid of Buddleia Globosa), and the golden leaved Agastache....they are always covered in butterflies as soon as they flower and pretty too!............





Here is one of the patches at the lottie, mixed with Calendulas..



With a bit of luck the Agastache plants will either self seed or act like a periennial, but I'm going to sow some more this year just in case as they are not reliably winter hardy.

Nice pics Debs.   :)  I've got Agastache too, I love the smell of the leaves.  But again I find it attracts bees rather than butterflies.   ::)  BTW I see your willow structure is coming along nicely.  Sadly I've had to abandon my plans to construct one in my garden as, having researched it, the only area I have is just not suitable.   :(

G x

I have seen a humming bird hawk moth visiting the nicotiana in a bed by my front door but have never managed to photograph it. 

However, I managed to get a picture of this one feeding on geraniums in France.  I hope you get one this year Georgie.

Hi Pauline, that's a fabulous picture.  I always have a few Pelargoniums in the garden and I've got some Nicotiana seeds to sow so here's hoping I'll be lucky.   ;D

G x

we've had a hummingbird moth the last two years on the buddleia in the garden, gave me quite a shock first time I saw it  :o ;D

I don't know if the European butterflies' larvae feed on dill and parsley like many do here. I grow those and milkweed  for the caterpillars. The butterflies also go for rotting pears on the ground and probably other soft fruits, and I've tried making a mudbath for them but have never seen them in it. 

  :)P7 thats a fantastic shot, mine are all terrible ::)


Georgie, seeds arrived today, thank you,/shades x

Grannie Annie I grow Parsley but I don't have room for Dill or Milkweed I'm afraid.  I'm fascinated by your wish to make a mud bath for the butterflies.   Can you explain?

Glad the seeds arrived safely Shades.   :)

G x

Quote from: Georgie on February 11, 2008, 20:36:28
Grannie Annie I grow Parsley but I don't have room for Dill or Milkweed I'm afraid.  I'm fascinated by your wish to make a mud bath for the butterflies.   Can you explain?

Glad the seeds arrived safely Shades.   :)

G x

Supposedly they like the minerals in mud and folks take a very low dish or make a fancy one out of concrete and put in mud and a sprinkle of salt. I have seen butterflies in the woods dipping down to muddy areas but never in our yard. Plus, in hot weather the plate was always drying up. 
About dill- it is so light and airy, very pretty with flowers underneath to my thinking.
Cone flowers really attract the swallowtail butterflies in our yard as well as tall phlox. Those are favorites since they bloom in the late scorching hot summer here.