The Benefits of Butterfly Gardens

The popularity of pollinator gardens is on the rise! Many homeowners are selecting plants for their landscaping to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to their gardens. These gardens are aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly, and mutually beneficial for humans and pollinators alike.

Bee and butterfly populations have been dwindling in recent years. Increased pesticide use, homogeneity in plants due to farming, and the usual development have wreaked havoc on their habitats. Bees and butterflies play a very important role in a healthy ecosystem and allowing them some real estate in your yard will help ensure that they are thriving. A butterfly garden is an excellent addition to your yard if you are concerned about sustainability and your ecological footprint.  

One of the reasons we want bees and butterflies to thrive is that they are critical to the health of local plants and wildlife. Bees and butterflies provide pollination to plants which creates more reliable harvests of the fruits and vegetables we rely on. They also provide food to smaller animals like birds and reptiles that we enjoy seeing in our outdoor spaces. Pollinators improve your soil quality, push plants produce more fruit and flowers, and also help control yard pests. When you make a butterfly garden you get a return on your investment in the form of a more lush, vibrant, and healthy landscape.

Of course, we are no strangers to butterflies in Gainesville! Our beautiful city is a prime location for butterfly gardens. The climate is friendly to many plants that produce nectar that butterflies to eat, and great leafy plants where they can happily lay eggs and pupate. Over the next few weeks, we'll be discussing what kind of plants attract butterflies and will thrive in our climate. Check out our Pinterest board for tons of ideas about putting in your own butterfly garden.