I found this neat citronella candle a while back that was made out of a coconut shell. I thought it would make a cute butterfly puddle. So I dug out the candle. Soaked it in dish soap for a few days. Then let the sun bake it for a week or so. coconut shell ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I then filled it with mud and placed it in my little butterfly garden. coconut butterfly puddle ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) I didn't expect the butterflies to stand in line to get to it, but I was hoping that at least one would visit it. Nothing. The fire ants didn't even go to it and they have been attacking anything with moisture! I figured it must still have citronella on it and that's what's keeping them away. So, I got a wooden bowl that's been in the "one day I'm going to have a garage sale box". Filled it with mud. This time I went online to read more about it. Found out that I should put a bit of table salt in it for them. So I did that. Then read that if you put a fake butterfly or a photo of a butterfly near the puddle... other butterflies will be more likely to check it out too. There was this plastic butterfly magnet on the refrigerator. So I stuck a nail in the ground next to the bowl and placed the magnet on it. butterfly puddle ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) No visitors yet. But it has been raining the last 2 days. Anybody else have butterfly puddles? Should I try anything else?
Well, not much success so far...but I think that its basically a good idea. Perhaps the butterflies just haven't had sufficient motivation. Wait until july or august when there are those days of intensive heat and dryness...perhaps then they will come. Whatever you do, don't give up!
Like the 100F days and no rain for a month kinda of days we've been having? I'll keep it there for them and maybe they'll find it when they need it the most. Carolyn... from what I've read, yes, it's minerals they are after when they go to a puddle, not just water. That's why I added the salt. Perhaps I'll do some more reading and find out if there's something better than just plain ol' table salt.
Cheryl, We have two types of "puddling stations" for our butterflies. One is simply a rock with a slight depression in it, that I spill water on when I water the pot plants. The stone is in the shade and stays moist for a couple of hours. The other is a hanging ceramic plate with pebbles in it that holds about 1/4" of water. The pebbles hold moisture and give the butterflies a landing pad. Why not turn your coconut half upside down and make a toad house?
Jane... a toad house? To actually have a toad come and live under it? Hmmmmmm.... they do eat insects. Do I do anything special to attract/house them? Or just turn it over and put out a "toads welcome" sign? I like the idea of a hanging one.
Try adding some stale beer to the puddle or stale cola. Afterall it is the male butterfly who visits the puddle and how many males do you know who can resist a beer. The mud in the second bowl looks to be too far down in the bowl, they can't sit on the rim and drink. You might put some rocks in there that are just barely above the surface of the mud, for them to land on so they can reach the mud. I have stones in my birdbaths for the bees and butterflies to land on to get a drink, so far the bees love it I haven't seen a lot of butterflies in the last few weeks.
Cheryl, Yes, a toad in the garden is a wonderful thing! We have a ceramic pot turned upside down near an old stump. Since there are pot plants on and around the stump, it's fairly moist there most of the time. The pot had a cracked rim, so I took a hammer and made a toad-size hole in the rim, and voila--a toad house. If you have masonry bits, you can make three holes in a plate, wire it to hang from a shepherd's hook or something similar, fill it with pebbles and there you go! I suggest you do not use Beyruth porcelain for this.
thanks Jane... I may have to try to make a hanging one. And if I can't come up with any other use for the coconut... a toad house it will be! Thanks Toni... There's always beer around the house and I'm sure I could share a bit with the butterflies. I was curious about how deep I should put the mud. I guess a shallower bowl/dish would work better? I have another item in the "garage sale box" that might be better. wood stuff ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) What about this round candy dish? It's probably about 8-10 inches round but very shallow. And I could put the butterfly magnet on the handle! :-D
I don't know that the depth of the container is a problem, many of the sites I have looked at recommend burying a pail in the ground up to the rim. You will fill that with gravel and sand, add a little salt or stale beer and keep moist. The deeper ones won't dry out as quickly, especially down here so maybe deeper is better. Some even suggest putting rotting fruit near the pail to draw the attention of butterflies who prefer that to nectar. You just need to make sure there are platforms for the butterflies to land on while drinking.
I read about the rotting fruit too... but I think that would attract too many ants/bugs. I'll see about getting something in there for them to stand on so their little feet don't get all muddy.
I always throw my rotting fruit right into my garden. I went to a butterfly farm and they told me that butterflies love Gatorade. so I may try that too. I also grow most of my plants which butterflies love.
I wonder if the fruit could be placed so that it is surrounded by water, then the ants would have to make an extra effort to get to the fruit. Beer sounds good, each time the butterflies needed beer I could have one. I wonder what brand they prefer? I do not have a butterfly puddle, with all the rain I would have to design it with an overflow. Hmmmmmm....some thought is required....I will test the beer requirement first. Several brands are needed. Fermented fruit hmmmmmm.... more thought. First the beer idea.......I love experimenting in the garden. Jerry
At the Austin Botanical Gardens, they have butterfly feeders--a flat platform hanging from a tree or shrub, filled with rotten fruit. The butterflies love it! For such beautiful entities, butterflies have the grossest appetites!
Good luck with the butterfly puddle project. We haven't got much lack of rain here so unless I put out a dish of rotting fruit I don't think they'd be very interested in visiting us. In autumn the Admiral butterfly is a frequent visitor to our rotting plums. We usually get an abundance of plums and depending on the weather they sometimes start rotting on the tree. Not good for us but the butterflies love them so we just pile the fruit in a far corner and leave them to it.
