Summer Flowers in a Totnes Garden
Your Garden, Their Sanctuary: A Guide to Butterfly Gardening in Totnes
The other day, while working in a garden near town, a magnificent Red Admiral butterfly landed on a buddleja I’d planted last year. It’s a simple thing, but it’s a sight that always makes me smile. Seeing these beautiful, delicate insects fluttering around is one of the true joys of gardening.
Here in Totnes, with our lovely mix of town and country gardens, we have a fantastic opportunity to help our local butterfly populations thrive.
It’s easier than you might think. With a few thoughtful choices, you can turn your garden into a sanctuary. Here’s how I approach it.
It All Starts with the Food
Like any visitor, the best way to attract butterflies is to offer them something good to eat.
A Year-Round Nectar Bar: Butterflies need energy, which they get from the nectar in flowers. The key is to provide a continuous food source. My Planting service focuses on creating a succession of blooms, from spring right through to the late autumn, so there’s always something on the menu.
Thinking About the Kids (The Caterpillars!): Adult butterflies are only half the story. Their caterpillars need specific "host plants" to feed on. While we might see them as weeds, a patch of nettles tucked away in a corner is a vital food source for the caterpillars of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.
Creating the Perfect Habitat
A good meal is one thing, but butterflies also need a safe place to live, rest, and shelter.
Go a Little Wild: One of the best things you can do is dedicate a patch of your garden to a wildflower meadow. It’s the cornerstone of my Rewilding service and provides a rich, diverse habitat for all sorts of pollinators. Even letting a small patch of lawn grow long can make a huge difference.
Welcome Water: A small dish of water with pebbles in it or a dedicated Pond provides an essential water source for butterflies and other wildlife on hot days.
Embrace Organic: This is a huge one. My entire Organic Landscaping philosophy is built around avoiding pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals don’t distinguish between pests and precious insects like butterflies and bees.
My Top Plant Picks for a Totnes Garden
If you want to get started, here are a few tried-and-tested butterfly magnets that do brilliantly in our Devon climate:
Buddleja (The Butterfly Bush): The name says it all! It's an absolute favourite.
Lavender: Great for bees and butterflies, and it loves a sunny spot.
Verbena bonariensis: Its tall, airy stems are topped with purple flowers that butterflies adore.
Thistles and Knapweed: Don't underestimate these native plants; they are nectar powerhouses.
Become a Butterfly Champion
Once your garden is set up, the real fun begins. Take the time to observe the different species that visit. You can even contribute to conservation by participating in the annual Big Butterfly Count. For a great family day out and to learn even more, I highly recommend a visit to the nearby Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary.
If you're inspired to turn your garden into a butterfly haven but aren't sure where to start, I can help. From a full Garden Design focused on wildlife to simply helping you choose and plant the right flowers, let's work together.
Contact me today for a free quote, and let's bring the butterflies back to your Totnes garden. You can reach me at kevin@totnesgardening.co.uk.
Summer Flowers in a Totnes Garden... TotnesGardening.Co.UK
To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.
