Remember that trees will cast shade under or beside areas, and are ideal for creating a woodland garden. Sunny areas are good for butterfly or hummingbird gardens. The key to developing such areas is researching what plants live in that habitat naturally. Wildlife depends upon plants that are native to the region, so including natives as much as possible is crucial. It features plants native to southwest Pennsylvania that provide nectar to pollinators.
Butterfly gardens are a popular way to attract wildlife to nearly any yard or patio.
Such habitats can range from formal gardens to natural meadows using native species, or somewhere in between. They also provide benefit to other pollinators, such as mason bees and bumblebees that are vital to the health of our food crops and ecosystem. A little bit of thought when planning or upgrading your garden can mean the difference between a true habitat or just a nice looking garden. Pollinators, including butterflies, are one of the focus species for the Wings of Wonder project. Team Monarch planted a large butterfly habitat using native species at the PPG Monroeville Technical Center in spring 2001.