Butterfly gardening Laying out your garden

• Choose an informal style, with irregularly shaped and curved beds, and trees or shrubs near the rear.
• Plant groupings of several plants of the same species — they will be easier for the butterflies to find.
• No matter how small your garden is, set aside a wild corner for native plants that butterflies can’t resist.
• Lawns composed only of grass aren’t attractive to butterflies, but if you add some clover (Trifolium repens) you’ll be able to feed a number of different species.

Of course, you can plan to build your garden over a number of years. Start out with just a few groupings of nectar plants. You can gradually add more and different varieties each year, along with a selection of host plants.

To find out more about the world of butterflies, visit the Montréal Insectarium.