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Now is the perfect time to create a garden to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees—and maybe even moths and bats. Just plant some of their favorite flowers in your yard or in pots on your patio or balcony, and watch what happens.

Here are some tips to help you get your garden growing.

1. Look for native plants. Native plants are those that have always grown naturally in your area. (Avoid modern "doubled" flower "hybrid" kinds of plants.) To find out about native plants in your area, click here.   
2. Bees prefer yellow, blue, and purple flowers with lots of nectar and a sweet smell. Examples: mint, thyme, lavender, bee balm. (You may want to plant mint and bee balm in pots, as they spread rapidly.) 
3. Hummingbirds go for red, orange, and purple tube-shaped flowers with lots of nectar. Examples: fuschia, nasturtium, scarlet runner bean, cardinal flower, trumpet vine.
4. Butterflies like brightly colored flowers (red, orange, yellow, pink, blue) with flat landing pads. Examples: purple coneflower, zinnia, cosmos, marigold. (Joe pye weed and milkweed are favorite caterpillar-food plants.)
5. Moths fly at night, so they are attracted to white or pale-colored flowers that are open after dark. Examples: evening primrose, yucca, moonflower.
6. Some kinds of bats in the Southwest also look for night-blooming, light-colored flowers. These nectar-eaters seek out strong, fruity odors. Examples: cactus, agave, banana.  
7. For even more tips, visit this butterfly garden page .

 

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