If you have been to one of my talks, below are Resources That provide additional information
Plants Mentioned in my “Basics of Butterfly Gardening” presentation
Plants Mentioned in my “butterfly gardening with native plants” presentation
Where to find Plants for Butterfly Gardens
Plant sales, native plant nurseries, and starting your own plants from seed are all ways to stock your butterfly garden. I maintain a list of plant sources and ideas on my blog page: Sources for Butterfly Garden Plants.
If you have a source that you would like to share and possibly have added to my list, please let me know!
Binoculars
What is that butterfly really doing? Using close range focusing binoculars let you see what is really going on in the small world of butterflies. You do not need a net to see butterflies up close, a good pair of binoculars will let you see all the colorful details on a butterfly without disturbing or harming it. Here is an article that will tell you everything you need to know about binoculars for butterflying. The article is quite old, so the binoculars mentioned may not be relevant, but the information on how to choose a pair of binoculars is still relevent.
I have purchased binoculars at my local Audubon Center as well as on Amazon. My current favorite binoculars are Pentax Paillio.
How to Research the Native Status of a Plant
USDA Plants Website is my first stop for learning about the status of native plants. Don’t forget to click the links in the fact sheet section of the page, there is a lot of information about each species cultural requirements in the pdf and doc links.
Also check the Native Plant Society in your state Native Plant Societies in the United States and Canada
North American Butterfly Association
To certify a garden with NABA’s Butterfly Garden and Habitat Program: Butterfly and Monarch Garden Certifications
For NABA membership: Become a Member!
North Jersey Butterfly Club (a NABA chapter) website: North Jersey Butterfly Sightings
Books to Consider
Butterfly Gardening: The North American Butterfly Association Guide. by Jane Hurwitz
A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America. by Jeffrey Glassberg
Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East. by Jeffrey Glassberg
Butterflies of the East Coast: An Observer’s Guide. by Rick Cech and Guy Tudor
Milkweed, Monarchs, and More: A Field Guide to the Invertebrate Community in the Milkweed Patch. By Ba Rea, Karen Oberhauser, and Michael Quinn.
Pollinator Friendly Gardening: Gardening for Bees, Butterflies, and Other Pollinators. By Rhonda Fleming Hayes