When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them To Attract Butterflies

When you think about how much juice you can get from one lemon, making lemonade might seem like more effort than it's worth. So, if the natural world perhaps brings you more joy than sipping on the fruits of your labor, consider using your lemons to attract butterflies. Whether your fridge is experiencing a lemon overflow or you just have a lemon half or two you don't plan on using, you can simply place them outside in a small dish for butterflies to enjoy. 

There are two factors to consider when considering which fruits to set out for the butterflies: juiciness and ripeness. Juicy fruits, like strawberries, apples, and mangos, often serve as refreshing energy sources for butterflies. Since their proboscis mouthparts do not enable butterflies to chew, you will want to avoid setting out firm, unripe fruits. Very ripe fruits are usually soft enough for butterflies to enjoy. As lemons pass through their ripe phase of life, the flesh becomes increasingly soft, making them perfect for the job. Don't hesitate to leave out any lemon peels as well, since butterflies can also enjoy the remaining juices on this often discarded part. This trick should also work for other forms of citrus, which also appear to be favorites of butterflies while potentially warding off other insects.

Even though you are setting out the fruit for butterflies, they aren't the only animals that these sweet snacks could draw in. Other culprits you might see nibbling away at your lemons are ants. You can always gamble on whether coffee grounds will keep ants away for long enough, or you can create a moat of sorts by surrounding the dish with water in a way that prevents ants or other crawling bugs from getting into the fruit.

One of the downsides of setting out other fruits to attract butterflies is that they could also draw in wasps and bees. Luckily, the citrus scent itself actually helps repel some insects while attracting butterflies, though it may not be a perfect strategy. When paired with cloves or rosemary, lemon can be used to repel wasps, bees, and mosquitoes in particular. And, of course, be sure to dispose of any fruit at the end of the day, lest dusk or nighttime critters make a mess in your yard.

You can't let the lemons do all the hard work, however. Consider growing plants that attract butterflies, like summersweet, mountain mint, or sage, the aromatic herb that also brings hummingbirds to your garden. Be sure to plant them so you can admire the activity from your favorite spot. Your plants will be happy with these new winged visitors, too; once the butterflies have made themselves comfortable in your home garden, they will also help pollinate plants as they move from one to the next.