Butterflies Nectar Preferences

[Hank & Priscilla Brodkin]

Michael Gochfeld wrote:
> 
> We are very fond of Peonies (which I think are in the Buttercup
> family) and have about 80 plants, many of which were obtained by my
> grandmother more than 75 years ago.  Almost all are "doubles" and I have
> never seen a butterfly on bud or blossom.
> 

We know someone down here who knows quite a bit about plants (we
don't).  We she gives talks on growing gardens for butterflies and
hummingbirds she advises against buying plants that have been bred for
the nursery trade.  She feels that altering the genetics to produce more
colorful and more complicated blooms sometimes selects against producing
as much nectar as  the unaltered native plants.
On the other hand we have friends who own a guest ranch in the
Huachucas.  They purchase catalog seeds and if a native plant is in the
cultivated areas - I have yet to see it.
However right now those gardens are covered with literally hundreds of
butterflies.  
BTW if any of you are birders, a singing Tropical Parula, Arizona's
second or third record was up there yesterday.  Let me know privately if
any of you want info on this.
Cheers!

-- 
	             Hank & Priscilla Brodkin
	          Carr Canyon, Cochise County, AZ
                   Send Mailto:hankb at theriver.com
             SouthEast Arizona Butterfly Association
          http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabasa/home.html
         "Butterflies of Arizona - a Photographic Guide" 
    by Bob Stewart, Priscilla and Hank Brodkin - due September 2001
         http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabasa/book.html

 
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