Create a Bird and Butterfly Garden

Your garden can be much more than lovely, serene or a place for family and friends to gather. It can be a bird and butterfly oasis. Creating this oasis doesn’t take much more than planting the kinds of plant material that will attract birds and butterflies. To help get you started plant some of these annuals and perennials that will woo these critters into your yard.

Hummingbirds are attracted to brightly colored trumpet shaped flowers. Flowering plants and shrubs that provide seeds as well as nectar are a bonus to birds in both the fall and winter. Remember that birds need to feel protected before they begin to gather so try centering these plantings near groups of established trees and shrubs. This way they will feel hidden by the additional foliage from these plants.

These are the annuals that are attractive to birds and butterflies:

Impatiens  Red & orange varieties are especially attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Lantana provides a good nectar source for butterflies, especially the red and yellow blooming varieties.
Phlox Butterflies and hummingbirds take nectar from the white and purple flowers. Other birds feed on the seeds in the fall.
Zinnias Flowers provide nectar for butterflies while birds eat the seeds in autumn and winter. Single flowering varieties are the best.

For perennials we suggest:

Agapanthus Hummingbirds appreciate those iridescent blue trumpets for gathering nectar.
Basket of Gold Attracts butterflies for nectar.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Hummingbirds favor the scarlet tubular flowers. Blooms from July to September.
Columbine Attracts hummingbirds to the flowers.
California Fuchsia (Zauschneria). One of the favorite flowers of hummingbirds.
Lavender Fragrant purple flowers attract butterflies for nectar.
Stonecrop (Sedum spectabile). Butterflies take nectar from the small pink flowers that bloom from August to September.
Sweet William (Dianthus). Red, white, rosy purple flowers provide nectar for butterflies.

Don’t forget the feeders to attract birds while your new plants fill in:

Another way to attract birds to the garden while you wait for the landscape to fill in and provide cover is with feeders. Several strategically placed feeders in the garden will provide hours of entertaining antics by your feathered friends. Your local California Certified Garden Center has a selection of classic style feeders, squirrel proof feeders and other accessories.

Even hummingbirds benefit from a feeder when there are no blooming flowers in the garden. There are handsome hand blown glass feeders that will entice them to stay in your garden. And don’t forget a birdbath. Your feathered visitors will thank you for the cooling off spot during the long hot summer.