Whimsical Wings: Creating a Sanctuary Garden

Attracting butterflies, bees, and everyone’s summer favorite—fireflies—comes down to the basics: food, water, and shelter.

To attract these winged wonders, start with large plantings of a single color. JESHOOTS/Pexels

The most tranquil garden retreats are more than just lush foliage and gorgeous blooms. They are a magical entity, an escape where one can relax and unwind surrounded by colorful butterflies, cheerfully buzzing bees, and firefly shows every evening.

Creating such an oasis of mental well-being is easier than one might expect, as these garden guests tend to prefer native plants that are well-adapted to their environment and thus easier to care for. Plus, these plants have a wealth of colors to choose from—pink, red, purple, yellow, orange—so there’s something for every garden.