Butterfly Gardening

This is a pretty good book. It has both host and larval plants, and tells which butterflies are attracted to each. The USGS actually has a great web site that you can go even further with in this area. Its a good book though. Unfortunately it doesn't indicate which plants are native to the US versus non-native. Because its so very important to plant native it would have been nice if the author hadd either indicated which were native or just included native plants in the recommendations. Native plants grow and bloom at the time when the butterflies/caterpillars are ready to take advantage of them. Non-native plants are timed for the insects in their natural area (usually Japan/china). In any case, its a good book that will certainly peak your interest in butterflies and serve as a good guide for setting up that garden

This wonderful book provides everything you need know to plan & maintain a beautiful garden designed to attract butterflies. Information on conservation, photography & history of butterfly gardening is included.Charts and diagrams present the information most effectively. Two tables list nectar sources for adult butterflies & larval host plants. Below each plant the butterflies that use it are listed.There are 5 complete garden plans tailored to different regions of the country, with tips on design, plant selection, water & pest control. Regional butterfly books and contact information for enthusiasts are also listed.The last section is the best. It contains beautiful photographs of over 50 different butterflies. The range, habitat and favorite plants are given for each species. I love these beautiful gardens with the butterfly bonus.