Making A Butterfly Puddle

Q: I saw your article on making a butterfly puddle and it looks easy. What kind of sand do I use? Can I mix it with something other than manure?

A: I used regular play sand. Honestly, anything will work since all you’re trying to do is make a shallow puddle. Instead of manure, you could use Milorganite or Holly-Tone fertilizers. Any organic fertilizer would contain the minerals and electrolytes that butterflies relish. The puddle dries out pretty quickly in hot weather so I’ve added a two-liter plastic drink bottle with a pinhole in the bottom that drips water into the saucer during the day.