Putting Down Roots: The Butterfly Garden
The saying “bloom where you are planted” never sat right with me. After all, certain plants require certain environments not just to survive, but thrive. It’s true for people, too.
When I moved to a new small town after college, I didn’t feel like I belonged, and five years later, I’m still wondering where exactly I fit. I’ve made things homey for the most part — rugs here, art there — but in all this time, maybe subconsciously, I never broke ground, never put my hands in the dirt, never tried to nurture anything here that I couldn’t take with me. Pots only.
In the spirit of turning 30 this year, of new beginnings and fresh starts, I decided to put down roots in a town that has never really felt mine — not because I’m here for good, but because I finally realized we all deserve little joys in our days no matter where we spend them.
So I planted my butterfly bush and my milkweed, the caterpillars are in their cocoons, the bird bath is full, and the sprinkler is running. In a week or so, I’ll have fluttering swallowtails and monarchs, buzzing bees, and bathing birds.
Read on to learn about how I broke ground and built a butterfly sanctuary in my backyard (on a budget).
Swallowtail butterfly on purple butterfly bush
How to Start a Butterfly Garden at Home
Budget & Supplies
My mother and grandmother are both avid gardeners and gave me all the starter tips that I’m sharing with you now. They came to visit around Mother’s Day weekend and we shopped at a few local nurseries — per their advice, I started with purple butterfly bush, milkweed, parsley, and dill.
As someone new to the gardening scene, I had to pick up a few starter supplies, and our local Dollar General is my go-to for budget finds. I bought a few small tools, gardening gloves, a kneeling pad, and a cute butterfly decoration for only $18. The price factor comes from the plants themselves, but if you plan ahead, you can save by starting from seeds.
For plants, you can start with:
Butterfly bush ($20/bush)
Parsley
Dill
You’ll also need:
A bag of soil
A shovel
Building a Butterfly Garden Step by Step
Placement: Make sure the area you plan to plant your butterfly garden gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day.
Soil: Use your shovel to loosen the soil about 8-10 inches deep. Mix in your bag of garden soil to enrich the area and keep your plants happy and healthy.
Planting: Start by spacing out your plants before you dig. Taller plants like the butterfly bush should go toward the back or center, with shorter ones like parsley and dill near the front. Gently remove each plant from its container, loosen the roots, and place it into a hole just deep enough to cover the root ball.
Watering: Water everything well after planting. Going forward, water regularly, especially during dry spells, but avoid overwatering — the soil should stay moist but not soggy.
Butterfly-Friendly Accessories: Besides nectar plants, butterflies also love a place to rest and soak up sun. Flat rocks for basking and a shallow dish with water and pebbles make your butterfly garden even more of an oasis.
Swallowtail caterpillar on parsley stalk
I was hesitant to commit to anything that felt too permanent, but I think I will thoroughly enjoy watching the butterflies in their new sanctuary this summer. Stay tuned for brand-new swallowtail butterflies emerging from their cocoons — coming soon!
