How to Make a Butterfly Garden in Wisconsin

Plant flowers that will thrive. Wild cherries, lupine, phlox, meadowsweets, milkweed, goldenrods, asters, ox eye, joe-pye weed and daisies are all listed in the North American Butterfly Association's list of top butterfly nectar flowers for Wisconsin. (References 5 and 6) WildflowerInformation.com adds baby's breath, snapdragon, blackeyed Susans, flax, calendula, poppies, chicory, marigolds, primrose, holly hock, morning glories, purple coneflowers, Queen Anne's lace, sweet alyssum and zinnias to the list of wildflowers that grow well in USDA hardiness zones 4 and 5.

Combine a wide variety of colors, heights and flower shapes. Each species of butterfly has its own unique needs and preferences, so varying your flowers will help you accommodate as many as possible. Layer flower bloom times so that your garden has blooms all the way to late summer.

Bunch plants into large groups to make your garden easy for butterflies to find. Not only are large clumps of flowers easier to see, they allow butterflies to remain in the same area once the nectar of a particular set of flowers is gone.

Provide shelter by planting trees and shrubs along the perimeter of you butterfly garden. Not only will these help block the wind and rain, they'll give the butterflies a place to hide from nearby predators.

Scatter rocks throughout your garden. Since rocks absorb heat from the sun, they'll give the butterflies a warm place to rest on colder nights. During the day, they're ideal spots for basking.

Install a water feature. Ample water is crucial to drawing any type of wildlife into your yard, butterflies included. Since butterflies drink most easily from fountain-type setups, be sure to include one of these in your water feature. The continual movement will help prevent mosquitoes and allow the water to be warmed evenly by the sunlight.

Feed the caterpillars, too. While they might not be as bright and beautiful as the butterflies you're trying to attract, providing plenty of leaves for caterpillars to eat will ensure that they form chrysalises in and around your garden. The North American Butterfly Association lists alfalfa, asters, clovers, milkweeds, oaks, violets, willows and pines as excellent caterpillar food.

Avoid pesticides in your garden, as chemicals are likely to harm caterpillars and butterflies alike. Instead, allow spiders, praying mantises and other insects to control pests naturally.

Put a compost pile behind your butterfly garden. Since some caterpillars thrive on rotten fruit, you'll want to make sure they have easy access to food. You'll be well-rewarded when they transform into butterflies later.

Prune with caution. Many caterpillars form chrysalises on dead branches and stems, so don't throw things out as soon as they turn brown. Instead, pile dead plant matter loosely near the back of the garden, allowing plenty of space for butterflies to escape later. Don't throw away your dead plants until late summer, as some butterflies don't emerge until then.