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Virtual tour What makes a butterfly meadow The trail veers right at the Butterfly Meadow and takes you through a sunny, sheltered area filled with a constantly changing panorama of nectar-rich flowers. But if you want to attract butterflies, even more important than a continuous supply of nectar for the adults are the nearby grasses, trees, milkweed, and thistles that their larvae (caterpillars) feed on. The combination of adult and larval food sources sheltered from the wind makes this an area where you are likely to see butterflies all season long — black swallowtails and monarchs are regular visitors here. It's worth visiting the meadow several times over the summer and fall to see the progression of blooms and colour changes — lupines, joe-pye weed, wild parsley, black-eyed susans, goldenrods, and asters — and to look for the various species of butterflies, of course. This page was revised on 11 October 2004 © Fletcher Wildlife Garden Photo: Betty Campbell Our e-mail address