Nectar plants are normally the first plants we purchase for our butterfly gardens. In this issue we will discuss a few nectar plants from which butterflies drink their meals.

Gardeners each have thier own personal way of gardening and laying out their gardens. Some plant flowering plants according to color or plant type. Others simply plant and enjoy the collage of color and texture. Butterflies do not care which way you plant your garden; they just enjoy the banquet you prepare for their meals.

Just as we each prefer our own flavor of milkshake (chocolate, pineapple, vanilla, strawberry, peach) some species of butterflies prefer one nectar plant over another.

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Lantana is a plant many people either love or hate. Wild lantanas tends to become agressive. These lantana species are well behaved and stay put in your garden!

Lantana is a nectar source to all species of nectar loving butterflies.

Gold lantana makes a feast of delicious nectar which is a delight to the eye. Gold lantana is excellent in the front of a garden, in a hanging basket, or in a planter. Planted with Red Pentas and Firebush, a fiery garden is visually hot and exciting! Zebra Longwing butterflies are especially attracted to Firebush. Swallowtails find Pentas to be an irresistable meal.

Weeping lavender lantana is excellent in the front of a garden, in a hanging basket, or in a planter. Planted with Golden Dewdrops and Mexican Sage, a lavender garden is created. A lavender garden is visually quiet and peaceful ... except for the butterflies flitting from bloom to bloom. Golden Dewdrops attract many species including Gulf Fritillary, Long-tailed Skipper, and Sleepy Orange butterflies. Mexican Sage is especially delicious to Cloudless Sulphur and Swallowtail butterflies.

Tall Red Pentas - such as Cranberry Punch and Ruby Glow - are not only an excellent nectar plant, they are also attractive in your garden. These pentas grow to three feet tall so please don't put them in front of your shorter lantana or other host or nectar plants.

For a bit of fun, add pentas to a cut flower arrangement in your garden. Butterflies are not the most brilliant of critters ... they will nectar upon cut flowers in the middle of a table at your garden party. Add a few springs of passionvine and watch Gulf Fritillary butterflies lay eggs in the bouquet. We had so much fun watching them nectar on cut flowers that we added a snip of such footage in our video 'Gardening for Butterflies'.

Mexican Sage is lunch for butterflies with a longer proboscis. Cloudless Sulphur and Swallowtails are especially attracted to these flowers.

Lavender and white blooms also mix well in a multi-colored garden. If you wish to add to your purple/lavender garden please contact us for a list of lavender and white flowers.

Many species of plants are ready to pick up or to ship from our farm. We are working to update our availability on our website. Our challange is finding the amount of time required to keep the website updated while we also keep butterflies and plants growing at the farm. Of the plants mentioned in this newsletter, these are the plant sizes available for shipment. Other sizes, including gallon pots, are available if you prefer to pick up at the farm nursery.

In stock and in bloom; Starter, four inch, and six inch pots of gold lantana.

• Gold Lantana; starter, four inch pots, six inch pots
• Ruby Glow Pentas; large tall four inch pots
• Mexican Sage; starter and four inch pots
• Lavender Lantana; four inch pots
• Cranberry Punch Pentas; large tall four inch pots
• Firebush; starter and four inch pots
• Golden Dewdrops; six inch lavender (other sizes will be available soon)