Newsletter Archives

Hot Buys

We've decided to run a special on a handful of products. Act now on the following "Hot Buys" because the special ends on Monday, June 17th. Be sure to check out all of our exciting specials by visiting the Hot Buys department regularly.

New at the Nest

Our customers are valuable to us. We continually search for new and better ways to serve you. In an effort to better meet your needs, BestNest aggressively adds new products to the website. Some of the new and exciting products that we've added are shown below. Be sure to check out our New Items department regularly.

Clearance

A few of our deeply discounted items appear below. These items feature exceptional savings and value but are not all of our sale items. More discounted items may be found in their corresponding departments. Be sure to check out some of our other exciting deals by visiting the Clearance department regularly.

Attracting Butterflies

Nothing is quite like watching butterflies frolic in your garden. These insects are a welcome addition to most gardens, and bring beauty and fun with their captivating colors. Attracting butterflies to your area is most effective with a few simple guidelines. Be sure to landscape with them in mind, and provide a consistent source of food, water, and shelter. Keeping your environment free of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals aids in them visiting the area. Also, when designing a butterfly habitat, you will want to provide a source of food for both caterpillars and butterflies.

Butterfly caterpillars enjoy the leaves of Asters, Milkweed, Snapdragons, Sunflowers, Violets, and Citrus. While the insects are eating the leaves of these fun plants, they will not cause any significant damage and will not move on to your prized roses or rhododendrons. Just keep in mind that without these caterpillars, the beautiful butterflies would not be possible.

Once the caterpillars emerge from their cocoons as butterflies, they become nectar feeders instead of leaf feeders. These insects enjoy the nectar of flowering plants such as Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium), Aster, Purple coneflower, Butterfly bush (Buddleia), and Liatris. For different food sources, offer butterflies a feeder filled with nectar, and add rotting fruit such as bananas and apples to it. Stale beer or molasses can be placed in shallow dishes for another way to attract them. Plant honeysuckle, clover, phlox, and wildflowers in the garden as well to expand their feeding options.

A water source is important for any species. As butterflies are smaller insects, they prefer a very shallow water source. Many species can be seen drinking from mud puddles, or congregating where the ground is damp and sunny. Placing a dish of damp sand in the ground creates a fantastic water source, and surrounding the dish with flat rocks which absorb sunlight offers butterflies a warm resting spot.

For shelter, butterflies usually hide in cracks and crevices, or between logs. The entrances of modern butterfly houses mimic these shapes, working with the insects' natural instincts. Placing a butterfly house in your garden creates a haven for the adult butterflies in inclement weather or at night. Caterpillars may also use the house for their developing chrysalis. For butterflies which overwinter in temperate regions, the home may also be used as a hibernaculum.

Inviting butterflies into your garden delights nature lovers of all ages. We have a large line of Butterfly Houses and Feeders to help you meet your needs. Look through the selections below or for more personal assistance, feel free to contact one of our customer service representatives toll free at 877-562-1818 or internationally at 513-232-4225 from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.