What can I do to attract birds & butterflies?

Question

I enjoy sitting in my backyard & I love watching birds & butterflies. Is there something that I could put out there to attract more of them? Especially cardinals.

Answer 1

To attract butterflies you should plant flowers that attract them like Perennias and Annuals.
To attract birds you should have trees for them to build nests. Some trees with berries.
Cardinals like roses. Make your backyard a safe place for them with no cats.
Also try bird feeders with wild bird seed.

Answer 2

Set out a bird feeder and put in standard bird feed into it and you will attract birds. Birds also need water and shelter to protect them. By putting out a bird feeder and a bird bath you will be on your way to attracting birds. Cardinals like sunflower seeds.

Try planting butterfly bushes to attract the butterflies.

There are many books written on how to attract wildlife to the garden. It would help you to get a couple of good books on this subject and read up on it.

Answer 3

The butterflies enjoy my Mexican Petunias. They are a pretty purple flowering plant. They put out new flowers every day. The cardinals here enjoy the trees around and the bird feeders. We have a cardinal that has no feathers on his head. His head is black. He's quite interesting. They like the black sunflower seeds.

Answer 4

I have numerous birdfeeders in our yard and get all kinds of birds. I found a birdseed at walmart that has dried cherry in it. The cardinals love it.
Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to bright oranges and reds. So when you plant your flowers you might want to consider a garden that includes these colors.
Don't forget to put out some kind of bird bath, so the birds and butterflies can get a cool drink when they want.

Answer 5

Check with your local university's extension office to find which plants both attract butterflies and thrive in your geographic region.
Butterflies are attracted to consistent sources of fresh water. Large rocks with indentations that hold water are the perfect watering hole for butterflies.
For more information on plants for midwest gardens, check this website: http://www.butterflyhouse.org/butterflies/butterflygardening.aspx
Cardinals are beautiful, hardy and faithful to those that feed them. They love black sunflower seeds and will feed both at the feeder and at ground level. The extension office can provide you with information on how to attract birds to your yard as well.
Once you start feeding the birds please don't forget them in the extreme weather months. Sometimes people forget to fill their feeders in the winter time when other food sources are minimal or are frozen over. We have a heated birdbath that we put out every winter and the birds flock to it because they can't find water elsewhere.
Good luck and have fun! Get your self some binoculars and a bird reference book, you'll learn all kinds of things!

Answer 6

Install several birdfeeders. Cardinals love sunflower seeds. Believe it or not, butterflies were attracted by the dozens when our chives flowered. The purple buds really had them coming and of course we had the chives to cut and dry. Birds of many kinds also love blueberries, choke cherries and service berries. The chives were really a surprise because they are not listed in your standard "butterfly garden."

Answer 7

There is a plant called the butterflie bush that growes quite big and attracts butterflies as well as humming birds. I have a few and they really work.

Answer 8

Bird feeders and flowers for the butterflies

Answer 9

Here's a HUGE list of plants to attract butterflies and birds.
http://www.houstongardening.info/butterflies.htm
As for Cardinals, I believe they enjoy nesting in pine trees.

Answer 10

Hang a wire mesh bird feedeer full of black sunflower seeds and wait for about 2 to 3 weeks. Don't know how to attrack butterflies.