ORANGE PARK – March is the perfect month to start planning for your spring flower garden. Take a day and give thought to your plant selection for the upcoming season. Whether you are starting your plants from seed or planning on purchasing them from a big box store or nursery, why not give thought to our insect friends, particularly the butterflies.

Here are some things you might want to consider: Heirloom (old) plant varieties are best. Hybrid and GMO plants were created for our pleasure and consumption, not for the benefit of beneficial insects. In fact, some GMOs are designed to deter insects and are known to kill bees. Make sure you read the label to see if the plant(s) have been treated with pesticides in the neonicotinoid family, which you want to avoid purchasing.

Another thing you might want to consider is succession planting. Look at the blooming period for your plant selections. Try to ensure that something is in bloom throughout the growing season. Plants that I have successfully grown in our area, and are sure to attract a host of insects, especially butterflies are: the old-fashioned zinnias (the taller the better); black-eyed Susans are easy to grow and will come back year after year; cone flowers--while they can be a bit fussy, are excellent butterfly plants; cleomes (spider plants) add a bit of pizzaz to the garden; and, last but not least are the pentas, the tall red ones are preferred by several of our local butterfly species.