All over the country, people are cultivating butterfly gardens.  This is a great thing because butterflies are threatened from all sides.  Habitat destruction, pollution and pesticides have all played a role in the reduction in the butterfly population. 

But once you have your butterfly garden, what do you do (aside from weeding)?  It is great fun and a terrific education to keep track of the butterflies that come to sip nectar from your flowers, lay eggs on host plants or simply rest from the task of flying around in search of food.  This is also a good activity to pursue with children or grandchildren.

But what if you don't know a swallowtail from a skipper?

There are many information sources, but probably the best is a good butterfly guidebook.  I like The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies (Knopf Publishing Group, 1981).  It is comprehensive, easy to use and inexpensive.  There are also butterfly-related websites, including that of the North American Butterfly Association (www.naba.org).  The NABA site also has a great "links" tab that can connect you to butterfly groups in your state or area.  The Xerxes Society (www.xerxes.org) advocates for all kinds of pollinating insects, including butterflies.  Its website is full of interesting information.

So take the time to learn a little something about butterflies.  It will make your butterfly garden even more satisfying.