"mbb" wrote in message
...
My young sons' school has an (almost) surrounded quadrangle garden, a
simple
lawned area with 3 or 4 mature buddlejas, a neglected pond, and some other
herbaceous beds.

I'm told that it's a pleasant area, but "the bushes don't encourage
butterflies". I know it's a subjective opinion, but might it be true? Are
there situations where the buddleja doesn't attract butterflies? Or is it
the local geography, perhaps?

regards, mbb

Yet more evidence of the power of Usenet!
Complain about the lack of butterflies and the garden is suddenly full of
them.
Possibly due to an overcast humid day which is more insect friendly?

Just been checking on Red Admiral and Painted Lady and Peacock which have
appeared on our bushes today.
From http://www.butterflygarden.co.uk/az_butterflies.htm
Painted Lady likes Thistles, Burdocks, Mallows & Nettles for the larvae - so
our Mallows (and concealed nettles) are O.K.
Red Admiral larvae like Nettles, Hops - nettles but no hops.
Peacock larvae like Nettles - nettles again!

So for a butterfly friendly area you could plant a Mallow or two as these
are similar in habit and long flowering to the Budleia, and some hops which
are lovely - I keep meaning to find one; they also grow wild around here.

Nettles are wonderful for butterflies but not so good for kids - so probably
not appropriate for a school garden :-)
Would be good if there was an area which could be fenced off to allow
nettles to grow, with an explanation why.

The Red Admiral and Painted Lady seem to like both our white and
lavender(ish) Budleia and also our light pink and dark pink Mallows.
The Peacock seems to be warming on the lawn, but spurning our varieties of
nectar plants.

For the purists:

Mallows are Garden Centre Lostlabelii
Lavender Budleia is Wonder Wherethat Camefromii
White Budleia (two cuttings planted together) Thanks Mate Presentii

Cheers
Dave R

P.S. there are a couple of small orange/brown thingies whizzing about but it
is windy today and they don't stay still long enough to identify.
P.P.S. I am contemplating a Nettle Bed for the larvae, but nettles are even
more invasive than mint - anyone have a strategy for containing them?