Flutter-byes

Flutter-byes: that's what I've heard little kids say when they're talking about butterflies. Doesn't matter what you call these beautiful creatures, which add so much color and movement and grace to a garden.

If you get a chance, be sure and visit the Tennessee Aquarium's butterfly exhibit, which opened last year in a brand-new building. You enter through a breezy passageway that prevents the winged residents from escaping out as you enter. Once you're in the exhibit, you're really one with the butterflies. They float over the bushes and flutter in the flowers, stop to sip from bowls of fruit or rest on leafy branches. They've even been known to settle on visitors wearing bright, butterfly-friendly colors, although it's best not to touch these fragile creatures.

Heirloom flowers are great to grow in a butterfly garden, because they don't require a lot of spraying with harsh chemicals. Try Scabiosas, also known as pincushion flowers for their mound-shaped blossoms. I like 'Blue Cockade,' which dates back to 1935. The flower heads have a faint, sweet scent and open in shades of violet-blue and lavender. Best of all, they flower into the cool days of fall. You can start them from seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost, so order from a reputable seed seller soon.

Dianthus, or Sweet Williams, are also great butterfly magnets. Try 'Nigricans," a deep ruby red flower with a spicy carnation fragrance. Swallowtails are attracted to this antique flower (that is, if you live in a part of the country that swallowtails inhabit). Dianthus seeds should also be ordered soon, so you'll have time to start them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost.

Does it sound like I'm rushing spring? I guess I am--I miss playing in the dirt during the winter. Gotta be patient until it warms up..or maybe start planning my next trip to see the flutter-byes.
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com