If there was only one reason for growing many herbs, it would be butterflies, called by poet Robert Frost his "flying flowers." To invite these lovely creatures to your garden, grow nectar-rich flowers that attract adult butterflies and host herbs to fee their larva. Here are five often-seen favorites butterflies and their favorite herbal snacks:
| Butterfly | Nectar Herb | Larva Host Herb |
|---|---|---|
| Cabbage White | dandelion, bee balm, dame's rocket | nasturtium, mustard, cress |
| Giant Swallowtail | echinacea, Joe-Pye weed | rue |
| Gulf fritillary | daisy, hibiscus, scarlet salvia | passionflower |
| Monarch | milkweed, goldenrod, mint, thistle | milkweed, dill, fennel |
| Mourning Cloak | New Jersey tea, red valerian | willow, birch |
I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly
Or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man.
--Chuang Tzu, 300 B.C.
Copyright 2000 Susan Wittig Albert. All rights reserved.