Birders, binoculars, and butterflies! Don points out that birders also like to watch butterflies and shows viewers how to attract them to the garden. He then gives tips on watching butterflies through binoculars. Lillian visits a beautiful California garden designed by bird photographer Hugh Smith. Later, it's time to relax and watch an elegant shorebird, the Willet.
How-To: Attracting Butterflies
You can create a garden that is highly attractive to butterflies by selecting just the right plants. The main food of adult butterflies is nectar and certain flowers are more desirable to butterflies than others. The top plants to attract butterflies are: Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Asters (Aster spp.), Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium spp.), Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.), Liatris or Blazing Star (Liatris spp.), Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.). Plants are available at local garden outlets, native plant nurseries, and mail order sources.
Time-Out to Watch: Willets
Willets are large shorebirds. They have black outer wings with white wing stripes that are visible only when they fly. They can be found year-round in the coastal South, and during the winter in California. They also breed in the upper West.
