The luxuriant summertime growth around my studio attracts a glorious range of butterflies. It lifts the spirit to see the dynamic aerial displays of the large swallowtail species that come here, such as common yellow swallowtails (Papilio machaon), red helens (Papilio helenus), spangles (Papilio protenor) and great Mormons (Papilio memnon Linnaeus).
Bringing in numerous kinds of butterflies was one of my goals in developing the studio garden. This required planting vegetation that they would see as food — flowers for mature adults, and leaves for larvae. The caterpillars all feed on leaves, but not just any leaves; each species has its own clear preference. So setting out plants is like arranging a banquet table.
Flowering plants were selected to provide rich sources of nectar for the adults, but there was still the question of how best to set the banquet. Each tree, shrub and flowering plant has its own needs. And the more different flora you want, the more you have to consider their impact on the overall garden layout.
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