Nectar Flowers for Connecticut Butterflies

'When planting a butterfly garden, one focus is on butterfly nectar plants. But, they are only half the equation. Before metamorphoses, a butterfly must first be a caterpillar. Butterflies lay their eggs on very specific host plants, called their larval food plants. In many cases, only one type of plant or one family of plant will do for a certain butterfly. If that larval food plant is absent, the butterfly will move on. Spicebushes (larval food plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail) are one example of this phenomenon. Others include Milkweeds (Asclepias family) as larval food plants for Monarchs, and Queen Anne’s Lace (and related plants such as carrots and parsley) for the Black Swallowtail.

Since butterflies only fly in warm weather (85 degrees and above), they are summer creatures sipping nectar from summer flowers. Some of their favorites are the Butterfly Bush (Buddleia sp.), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Gaillardia, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), Asters, Sedums, Verbena, and Lantana. Butterflies are nomads, and take off if their needs are not met. To keep them around, plan your garden to have a long succession of bloom of key nectar plants, spanning the season from June through September. The list of butterfly nectar sources is very long.'

Nature Works Garden Center

Here is a list of nectar flowers and host plants for Connecticut butterflies.

 June Garden at the Avery House!

 Drought Tolerant Annuals and Perennials

With ongoing drought, conserving water in the landscape is increasingly important. One way to conserve water is selecting drought tolerant plants. A drought tolerant plant is one that can survive on average rainfall with little or no supplemental water once established.

Drought tolerant plants tend to have characteristics that minimize water loss from leaves and/or maximize water uptake by roots. These characteristics include deep roots; gray leaf color; small, succulent, hairy, or waxy leaves; or the ability to go dormant during drought. 

Plants with smaller leaves or leaves that are gray in color, hairy, waxy or succulent lose less moisture from their leaves through transpiration. Large leaves and lush growing foliage promoted by excess nitrogen lose moisture faster, making them less tolerant of dry conditions.

As a rule, native plants are considered more drought tolerant than non-native plants. While this is not always true, native plants are often more adapted to or tolerant of local growing conditions and this can help with water conservation.

As suggested list of drought tolerant plants from the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources.

Be a Part of the Pollinator Pathway! 

What is it?

Pollinator pathways are pesticide-free corridors of native plants that create connected habitats for bees, butterflies, birds, and other essential pollinators. By linking gardens, parks, and natural areas, these pathways provide the nectar, pollen, and shelter pollinators need to thrive as they move through developed communities.

The Avery House garden has been developed and cared for with pollinators in mind. It is now on the Connecticut Pollinator Pathway!

Spring Clean-up, May 4, 2026

                 

                      

Lots to do after a long hard winter. 

Thanks for your hard work, Trillium Garden Club volunteers!

 

 

 

The Ebenezer Avery House is beautiful...

February 2026

the whole year through!