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Butterfly Garden

Butterfly Feeders- Got pix?

14 years ago

I'm googling, but seeing very little in the way of 'creativity' for a feeder. Too much "commercial." I have a resin birdbath that I could certainly repurpose, and wondering what-all everyone else uses?

Do BFs have a preference for materials- ceramic, cement, terra cotta, resin, etc?

And are there any fruits that will deter them completely that I would want to avoid putting in it?

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Comments (3)

susanlynne48
14 years ago
There are instructions for making a feeder on our FAQs that Mike Cronin did for us. Check it out.

My friend Sandy recommended using suet feeders (for birds) and I use that stuffed with rotten banana or other rotting fruit. They cost about $2 at Walmart and other places.

Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Hanging Butterfly Feeders
mmqchdygg
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Susan-
Yes, I did see the FAQ instruction, as well as having searched here for some ideas (and came across your suet-feeder one, too.

Do you modify it at all? I've seen those...actually I have one, but have never used it, so I guess I'm concerned that the stuff will fall out the holes when it dries up?

I guess I was just looking to see pictures of some neat ones to run with an idea to make one of my own (there's no pictures in the FAQ one ;) )
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Faith, What a beautiful BF feeder! I'm sure the winner of the feeder considers himself quite fortunate. Thanks for posting it so I could see it. I appologize for not responding sooner. I did another presentation yesterday. It was done on a day's notice. But, now that I'm presenting, it gets easier each time. Maryann, I encourage you to pursue presenting about BFs. You will find it quite rewarding. It took a lot of time to prepare for the first presentation, but now I have everything ready to go. I had to make hard copies of a lot of my photos. I made albums showing life cycles, my garden as it evolved, and different BFs nectaring on various plants that I wanted to highlight. I made a handout with the top nectar and host plants for our area, keeping it to one page. I also included websites to visit, and books. I made a powerpoint that follows my handout. I am not always able to utilize the powerpoint, but it is terrific when I present to a large group. So far, the only presentations I get "paid" for are the ones I do at the nursery. I take my pay in plants! I'm thinking about investing in a projector, which is not a cheap expenditure. If I do this, I will need to charge something for the presentations. And, my son is encouraging me to do a website. I have 2 schools where I will be presenting in May, and they have equipment available. There is humor in BFs, so most people find the presentations entertaining as well as informative. Yesterday one of the elderly women at the presentation made the comment, "You mean he's a queer queen?" when I pointed out that the picture I was showing was a male Queen, because of the dark spots on the wings. We all rolled. She looked like such a demure little lady. Anyway, I am having a wonderful time. I thoroughly enjoy sharing about BFs and find the audiences to be great. Go for it, Maryann! Sandy
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Daniella, Beautiful Shots. I have been taking pix of them myself. They are everywhere! I have never seen so much in my yard. My DH actually seen two mating today! (He Thinks) They where flying together spiraling to the groung then flying up and do it again. My hope this one day see a hummingbirds nest. Dorothy
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susanlynne48
14 years ago
The rotting fruit is kind of drippy, but where it falls on the ground, the butterflies also congregate there to partake. Actually as the fruit dries it adheres to the feeder and is easy to remove in a clump. I use a bent hangar to attach the short chain and I slather the chain with vaseline to keep the ants at bay. Lots of little knats and such also gather at the feeder. and it is hung in close proximity to my hummingbird feeder. The hummers love to consume the little knats, too, and chasing them down with a sip of sugar water, so the feeder provides a dual function. Rotting fruit does attract flies so don't hang too close to your house.

I don't know that I have ever actually surfed for images of a feeder, but another idea are those shallow dishes sold in garden centers (I had one I got at Walmart for cheap cheap). They are probably prettier if you are more into aesthetics than I am. It was a carved stone dish with 3 evenly spaced chains so it would hang straight.

Dollar stores and such usually have lots of things that, using one's imagination, can be used for a variety of functions that are not what they are specifically intended for. Keep an eye out for these and I'm sure you'll find something that will fit your needs.

I don't use a syrupy mixture like some do, so the suet feeder works well for just a couple of pieces of decomposing fruit. Otherwise. you would need a better container for a soup blend. I had dozens and dozens of HEs, TEs, QMs, RAs, etc, all over the suet feeders this summer.

Sus

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