Create a Butterfly Paradise
“Don’t you wish you were there when God made the world, Mom?” my son asked.
“You mean when God spoke our world into being?” I responded, slightly surprised. Some days I feel like I have been around since Creation!
“Yes, you know, so you could see it all!” he enthused, as he waved his arms around to make his point.
“Well, we can see and experience God’s creation just by looking at nature,” I further explained, “when we look at the trees, the sky, the birds . . . These are all things created by God that can not be made by man.”
“Yes, he made them on days three, four, and five,” my twelve-year-old piped up.
“When did God make the butterflies?” my little son asked his older brother.
“Day five. Right Mom?”
“Yes,” I said, proud that my son had learned his lessons well.
“I thought he created the animals on day six,” my daughter quipped.
“That was the day he created the land animals and man,” I explained.
God Designed Studies
Conversations such as this often take place in my home. The hand of God is very evident in nature, and I tend to see this when I take the time to reflect on His majesty. Although I’m a busy person, as I’m sure you are, I make an attempt to have quiet times when I can listen to the Lord. I find quiet on my deck and I recall this verse: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).
Our study this year was the “life sciences,” and the Lord provided for this abundantly! We experienced everything from watching the butterfly and ladybugs change from larva to adults to the birth of kittens from our stray cat. This cat was a gift from the Lord. Anne, my nine-year-old, prayed diligently for three years. I should have known when I answered, “The only way you can have a cat, Sweetie, is if the Lord brings one to our home.” The Lord knew when she would be old enough to care for one, and that is when KitKat came into our yard, alone and afraid. (“But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it].” Romans 8:25)
God provided more subjects to study after the birth of bunnies to our pet rabbits when we were assured both were male! Yes, it has been a busy time for the Gerwitz household. The children have photographed, written, and drawn about all this in their science journals. While some of these events were unplanned but profitable, our butterfly garden was a planned family affair.
Planning a Butterfly Garden
We finally unearthed a butterfly kit that the children received years ago from a relative. We sent for the larva and learned a bit about the life cycle of a butterfly. When we set up the cardboard box that came with the kit, my twelve-year-old decided to enlist his brother and sister to help him build a better butterfly hutch (more about that later). They decided that when the butterflies became adults they didn’t want to release them; they wanted to keep them.
First, we had to decide what plants we wanted for our garden. Here in southwest Florida we are blessed with seasonal balmy weather that encourages year round growing. To begin, we charted on a calendar the first growing season. We decided on September, but we then added to our garden at the end of February. Our choice of annuals meant they would only stay in bloom for a short growing season. In December, I enjoy planting poinsettias in the front garden, so this worked well. Deciding where to plant the garden was easy. Our terraced front steps are bordered by plots of dirt, providing a perfect place.
Most of the plants sold at the local nursery and garden centers held tags with pictures of butterflies on them and the words “butterfly friendly.” That was much too easy. I decided we would visit the County Extension Center. The naturalist there answered our many questions. They told us that the Web site contained information and downloadable forms to help us choose flowers to plant. On the front page of the Web site, I found a link for “butterfly information.” We also took a trip to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, one of the most extensive native plant nurseries. One of their programs aids homeowners in creating wildlife sanctuaries by planting types of vegetation that will attract butterflies as well as birds.
As we reviewed the list of common Florida species, we recognized the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch, and the Silver Spotted Skipper (although we didn’t know the name of that butterfly until we did our study). On the local Web site, there was a link for planting information, types of butterflies found in Southwest Florida, and even an audio with a slide presentation on the metamorphosis of the monarch butterfly.
In a quick search, I found many different states that had butterfly garden information with many photos of the species common to each area. Even if you don’t have a plot of land, you can easily cultivate a butterfly garden with potted plants. I created several for my entryway for a fraction of the cost of buying already planted pots.
The Florida soil tends to be very sandy and lacks nutrients necessary for good plant growth. We found that our soil needed an addition of topsoil as well as peat moss, so check the soil in your area to see what it needs.
After we decided which plants we wanted for our butterfly garden, it was time for the children to sketch where they wanted to place the plants. After some animated discussion, we decided on the final placement of blooms.
The Final Breathtaking Product
The final product was breathtaking and a testament to the Lord’s handiwork, the beauty of nature. Best of all, our total purchases were within dollars of our budget, thanks to my older son who decided we should purchase some seed packs which were much less expensive and stretched our budget.
The day came when we were to release the butterflies. The children built the butterfly cage using leftover screen and wood. My son decided to use a staple gun, which proved to be an unwise decision. Once the screen was set up over a section of blooming plants, we released the butterflies with the cage set over them. They seemed happy (according to my children) in their new home. I was amazed at how well it worked. To add to the excitement, the children added two more captured butterflies that were attracted to our wildlife garden.
Later that day my younger son frantically called me outside. The butterflies had escaped! The children couldn’t understand how it happened. Only a small piece of screen had pulled away from the top corner of the frame, otherwise it was perfectly in place. This was sufficient for the butterflies to spread their wings and fly away. Upon further examination, we saw tiny cat paws on the side of the screen and we deduced that the kittens were drawn to the fluttering creatures. Their paws on the screen had caused it to pull away from the staples, just enough to allow the escape.
In spite of their disappointment, the children found humor in the fact that the only butterflies left were those they had captured. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Our plan had been to observe the butterfly over the course of a few weeks, but we learned that God’s plans were better. These adult butterflies were ready to spread their wings and experience the wider glory of the world the Lord had prepared for them. This life lesson was not lost on my children, and later we sat together as a family marveling at the plan the Lord has for our lives. We can build our homes (or in their case, they built the butterfly home), but we must always be open to the Lord’s will in our lives, consulting Him in prayer and knowing that His plan for us is much better than ours.
Produce Your Own Butterfly Paradise:
1. Research the plant growing season for your state.2. Research the type of butterflies indigenous to your state.
3. Go on field trips if possible to obtain information from area experts.
4. Decide where you might plant a garden.
5. Plan a budget.
6. Decide on the type of blooms you will use (or purchase seeds).
7. Sketch the layout of your garden.
8. Plant your choices.
9. Care for your plants.
10. Observe each day and look for butterflies and other critters.
11. Record your observations with pictures or in a daily journal.