Pollinators need a water source too! Laurelle is coming to you live on location, from Nova Scotia as she visits her family! Join her and the fam as they create a refreshing bird and pollinator hydration station.
Here's how you can make your own:
🐦 Butterfly Puddling Dish: To begin, gather simple ingredients such as a pan or tray (a small saucer works perfectly), little pots to use as risers, pebbles, dead twigs, and some large flat rocks. If you can, add some beach sand for its mineral content.
🦋 Creating the Puddling Dish: Find a cozy spot in your garden and use a riser like an upside-down wicker pot as shown in this video. This will elevate your puddling dish, adding an attractive touch. Fill the dish with a mixture of garden mud, a couple of rocks, and sand for enhanced mineral absorption by butterflies through their feet. Adjust the water level so it resembles muddy puddles with occasional wet spots.
🍇 Fruit Attraction: Butterflies are drawn to slightly rotting fruit. To entice them further, consider placing a piece of fruit nearby to attract their attention and provide additional nourishment.
💧 Placement and Considerations: Choose an area that receives some afternoon sun to provide a warm, inviting environment for the butterflies and pollinators. Remember, we aim to hydrate, not boil! Ensure you have different surfaces available, varying in thickness, to serve as perches for the visitors. Keep the water depth no more than four inches for their safety.
🦜 Witness the Magic: Once your hydration station is set, prepare to welcome a diverse range of visitors. From birds to butterflies and other delightful creatures, your garden will become a hub of activity and vitality.
🌿 By offering this inviting oasis, you play an essential role in supporting the well-being of these incredible creatures. Keep observing and enjoying the wonders of nature as your hydration station becomes a central gathering place for a variety of fascinating species. Stay tuned for more tips, ideas, and inspiration as we continue to explore ways to nurture our environment and the remarkable wildlife that graces our gardens. Happy gardening and creating your own bird and pollinator hydration station!
