One of the steps required to make your home a Certified Wildlife Habitat is to have at least one water source for wildlife in your yard--water for drinking and bathing. I thought I would bring this up now because it is hot and rain has been scarce......

About ten days ago I made it a priority in my own home to ensure there is water in the birdbaths and I set up a shallow pan with a flat rock in the middle under one of my oaks in the front yard---I can see it from my living room and it has been soooooo busy--quite gratifying. I have decided to set up a butterfly puddling area.

I have set my own birdbath/shallow pan in areas where the birds can access the water *safely*.

Here are some types types of water sources mentioned in the wildlife habitat application: **Please, let me know if you take the step to do some of these. Cheryl Silver csilver2@...

birdbaths---keep an eye on these as they will dry up quickly--if they heat up, add some ice cubes. lake stream seasonal pool ocean water garden/pond river butterfly puddling area* rain garden spring

* Butterfly puddling area---something your kids can do--and you can do, too!

Why are they eating dirt? Butterflies often gather in groups on wet sand or mud, and look like they are eating. This activity is called puddling, and they do it to obtain the minerals that are found in the soil. You can create a puddling place in your garden by placing a shallow pan in the soil, filling it with coarse sand, and keeping it moist. You can add salt to this at a rate of ½ to ¾ cup salt (table salt or rock salt) to 1 gallon of sand, mix well and moisten. Locate the puddling area under a soaker hose or near a drip emitter to help keep the sand moist.