How to Make a Butterfly Puddler

Stephanie Rose of Garden Therapy has written a number of books, and I have many of them.  When I learned she had written a new one called Garden Alchemy I knew I wanted it.  In fact, I preordered it before it was even released!

The Gardening Alchemy book is packed with over 80 ideas to naturally beautify your garden.There are recipes for mixing your own potting soils, making your own homemade organic fertilizers, pest deterrents, garden teas, and foliar sprays to make your garden grow strong.

But Stephanie didn’t stop there.  Included are dozens of fun DIY garden projects such as home-made seed bombs, seed tape, or tips on turning your hydrangea from blue to pink (that’s my next project)! There were so many great projects I couldn’t decide which one to pick.

Since my last couple of posts have been on butterfly gardening, ( Read my post on butterfly gardens here.  I was  happy to see the inclusion of a butterfly puddler in the book, and decided one would look great in my butterfly garden.

What you will need:

• Terracotta pot and saucer
• Play Sand
• Compost
• Decorative rocks and beach glass ( I used some small round rocks out of my garden)
• Acrylic paint for outdoor projects.

Butterflies generally get their water from nectar.  They drink from the puddler to get the necessary minerals they need.  When you finish making your puddler be sure and place it in a sunny location and near a place where you can watch these pretty creatures visit often.

I painted the bottom of my pot green, and used butterfly stencils to create some color.  I sprayed the pot with a polyurethane clear spray since it would be outside.  I also used “patio” paints for the butterfly and flowers.  These paints can be used when you are going to leave the project outside.   I left the saucer plain, since the butterflies will be drinking from it.

How to fill your butterfly puddler:

• Mix 3 parts sand and 1 part compost.  Add to the saucer.
• Make a “river” in the sand by pushing aside some of the mixture and adding the decorative pebbles.
• Lay flat decorative rocks or beach glass along the river.  These perches sit just above the sand and compost and give the butterflies and friends a place to land.  The pattern you use to lay out your rocks is purely your design decision.
• Add some water to the sand and compost to make mud and set the puddler out in the garden.
• Fill the water every few days to a week depending on fast the water evaporates.  Each month, empty the puddler, and give it a good wash with biodegradeable soap.  Refresh the sand and compost.

I set mine out in my butterfly garden next to a large rock.  Butterflies like to sun themselves and this would be the perfect spot.  I also have a butterfly house next to the rock.   I used it for decorative purposes.  I don’t think I have every seen a butterfly use it.

 

Download these butterfly printables which includes a sighting log to monitor all the butterflies that visit your garden and puddler.

Click here to Download

 

Happy Gardening!

Karen