This craft involves cutting, gluing and designing and can leave a big mess, but it’s  lots of fun!  Kids can show their creativity as they pick colors and patterns for their butterflies.  We talked about why some butterflies have big spots on their wings (to fool potential predators that they have large eyes) and how butterflies grow (from caterpillar to flying insect).   I used the directions at http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/m-butterfly-windsock.htm with a few changes (we didn’t use the patterns, just figured it out from the picture).  After the craft we talked about what type of flowers attract butterflies and went on a flower hunt to spot them.  Flowers with multiple florets and abundant nectar are good choices.  Also it’s important to have plants that flower in mid to late summer when butterflies are most active.  Here is the list of butterfly plants from Sunset Western Garden Book:
Achillea—Yarro
Agapanthus–Lily of the Nile
Antirrhinum—Snapdragon
Aquilegia—Columbine
Armeria—Thrift, Sea Pink
Asclepias—Butterfly Weed
Aster
Astilbe
Borage
Shasta Daisy
Coreopsis
Cosmos
Delphinium
Dianthus—Pink
Echinacea—Coneflower
Echinops—Globe Thistle
Erigeron—Fleabane
Eryngium—Sea Holly
Erysimum—Wallflower
Gaillardia—Blanket Flower
Heliotropium
Iberis—Candytuft
Lathyrus—Sweet Pea
Lobularia—Sweet Alyssum
Monarda—Bee Balm
Oregano
Penstemon
Phlox
Ranunculus
Rudbeckia
Salvia
Scabiosa
Sedum
Tagetes—Marigold
Verbena
Shrubs
Abelia
Buddleia
Calluna
Ceanothus
Choisya
Clethra
Escallonia
Hebe
Lavender
Lonicera—Honeysuckle
Mahonia
Philadelphus—Mock Orange
Potentilla
Rhododendron
Ribes—Currant
Rosemary
Spiraea
Vaccinium