Native Plant Wildlife Gardening

build a butterfly drinking spot in the garden

Have you ever noticed how butterflies gather on moist spots in a garden? This is known as puddling. Butterflies pull the moisture and minerals they need out of the damp soil. Males are known to be drawn to these puddles frequently, seeking salts salts and minerals which heighten their libido and encourage breeding.

You may easily make your own butterfly puddle in a backyard by by filling a small bowl, dish or flower pot bottom with sand and adding water until the sand is soggy. Make sure the bowl is at least 16″ wide or you will be adding water to it often as it evaporates, and the larger size will also allow for more butterflies and allow for them to find it easily.

Select a spot in the garden and dig the bowl into the ground to a level that is flush with the dirt. You could as well simply set the bowl on the ground, or on a pretty rock or over turned clay pot, but I have found that digging it in helps to keep the evaporation rate down a bit and in Georgia, that is an issue!

Add about a tablespoon of composted manure or mushroom compost to the sand, and there is the option to throw in a small pinch of salt to attract male butterflies. The bowl can include decorative river stones as well as some flat surfaces such as clam shells for the butterflies to sun bathe on.

It is also recommended to to add a bit of rotting fruit such as banana, apple or pear slices. Supposedly this attracts butterflies quite successfully, but honestly I have not tried this yet. It is advised not to change the fruit supply too frequently as butterflies prefer it somewhat fermented.