#umaineextension — Public Fediverse posts

Bulletin #7151, Landscaping for #Butterflies in #Maine (PDF)

This fact sheet was developed by: Nancy Coverstone, Extension educator, Jim Dill, Extension pest management specialist, and Lois Berg Stack, Extension ornamental horticulture specialist.

Table of Contents:

- The Life Cycle of Butterflies
- Common Maine Butterflies
- How to Create Habitat that Entices Butterflies
- “Wild” Places Attract Butterflies
- #NativePlants Support Butterflies
- Design Tips for a Successful #ButterflyGarden
- Nectar Sources for Butterflies and Moths
- Larval Food Sources
- Further Readings

"Butterflies are beautiful insects, and they are also an important part of the ecosystem. In their search for nectar, they spread pollen from one flower to another and help ensure seed for new generations of plants. They also recycle nutrients and are prey for many species of birds, spiders and small mammals. Gardening and landscaping can create or enhance habitats for butterflies so they may survive and thrive. Whether your yard is in a city, suburb or rural community, you can make it a haven for butterflies.

Butterflies belong to the insect order Lepidoptera, along with moths and skippers. All species of butterflies in Maine, of which there are more than one hundred, have four wings covered with small scales. The butterfly families in Maine are #swallowtails (Papilionidae), whites and sulphurs (Pieridae), gossamer-wings (Lycaenidae), brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae), #monarchs (Danaidae), and arctics and satyrs (Satyridae), which includes the endangered #KatahdinArctic. Skippers (#Hesperiidae) have characteristics of both butterflies and moths.

When developing a landscape for butterflies, first consider butterfly species present in your area and their preferred habitats. Then consider plants suited to your climate and your backyard habitat. Assess what your landscape already provides, and add to that. Each butterfly species has a preference or need for a particular habitat type, such as meadow, woods, woodland edges or marshes. Also, some species are specialists, while others are generalists regarding food sources. The habitat preference as well as plants you provide will determine your success in attracting a particular butterfly species. An identification field guide will prove helpful."

Learn more:
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/7151e/

#SolarPunkSunday #ButterflyHabitat #BackyardHabitats #GardeningForPollinators #UMaineExtension #UMaineCooperativeExtension

#StartingSeeds at Home with #UMaineExtension

Mar 3, 2021

"You can get a big jump on #Maine’s short #gardening season when you grow your own #seedlings. Instead of waiting for the ground to warm up enough to sow seeds outside, start enjoying flowers and harvesting vegetables four to six weeks earlier by starting seeds at home.

Starting your own plants from seed also allows you to choose from the much broader array of varieties offered in seed catalogs.

Using transplants instead of direct-seeding is especially important for plants that take a longer time to mature or are sensitive to frost."

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da1gOgjaqaM

Find more research-based information about home #gardening in Maine from UMaine Extension:
https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/

#SolarPunkSunday #GrowYourOwnFood #GrowYourOwn #GardeningInMaine #SeedStarting