Growing a butterfly garden is a multifaceted delight. It also serves the planet. Butterflies pollinate a wide range of plants. Caterpillars transform leaves into food for birds, frogs, lizards, mice and countless other creatures. With residential and industrial development rapidly consuming open land, home habitat gardening has taken on new urgency.

A butterfly garden also makes it possible to collect caterpillars and raise them at home or in a classroom. It’s a simple task, and a great joy.

You can create a butterfly garden with just a few flowering nectar plants to attract adult butterflies and one or two host plants for their caterpillars (also known as “cats”). An established, well-mulched butterfly garden takes very little work.

During the next few months, I’ll be posting more information about shaping butterfly gardens at homes and schools. Stay tuned . . .