Butterfly Habitat
Colorful flora abounds in the Urban Forest and covers the Butterfly Sanctuary. Lavender (Lavandula), Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens), Goldenrod (Solidago) and Butterfly Bush (Buddleja) entice multiple butterfly pollinators. Pollination is an essential part of plant reproduction, to keep the forest’s gardens flourishing.
Monarch butterflies are characterized by their black outline with white spectacles, as well as their orange interiors. They inhabit numerous areas of the world, specifically North and South America, Australia and Indonesia, which allow for migration patterns to colder areas during the summer, and warmer areas during the winter. Spot them in Orange County during the winter, where they migrate in order to avoid cold weather.
Considered the most widespread butterfly species, Painted Lady butterflies live throughout North America. They thrive in Southern California, particularly in the early spring. They appear similar in coloration to Monarch butterflies, but Painted Ladies tend to be smaller, with a 2” wing span vs. the Monarch’s 4” wing span.
