Save Your Mason Jar And Lid To Attract More Butterflies To Your Yard

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Few sights add glam to your backyard like fluttering butterflies busy feasting on nectar in flowers. It's truly magical. So if you're wondering how to attract butterflies to your garden, planting an ample mix of colorful flowers is a great idea. However, you don't always have to wait till your garden is fully blooming to charm those flying beauties into your space. Create a nectar sipper using a mason jar and lid, and the butterflies will come.

Besides the mason jar, you'll need a natural sponge like this Naroa Natural Unbleached Sea Sponge to serve as the "wick" that slowly releases the sweet liquid that butterflies sip. To decorate the jar and make it attractive to the butterflies, get washi tape and then have colorful twine for making a hanging loop. You'll also need tools to poke a hole in the Mason jar lid, like a pair of scissors, a nail and hammer, or a screw driver with a pointed end.

This DIY is not just a handy way to use old Mason jars in your yard and garden; it's also the perfect way to provide a continuous supply of nectar when fewer flowers are in bloom. Over and above that, having a feeder increases pollinators in your garden, hence enhancing its productivity.

To begin, make a small hole in the flat lid using the nail and hammer or the screwdriver. Insert the sponge through the hole, such that part of it is sticking out and the rest will be inside the jar. Your next main task is to decorate the jar. Keep in mind that bright colors are ideal for luring butterflies, especially yellow, red, purple, pink, or orange. You can stick these different colors of washi tapes all around the jar, or get dried pressed flowers and glue them on the jar using a decoupage medium like Mod Podge. 

The next step is to tie the twine around the mason jar to serve as the hanger. First, cut a short piece of colorful twine, and wrap it around the jar's neck just under the bottom ring. This piece of twine will hold the twine loops that will form the feeder's hanging ring. Next, cut two longer pieces of twine about an arm's length. Turn the jar upside down and tie the first piece of long twine on two opposite points on the twine around the neck. It'll form a loop going above and across the bottom of the mason jar. Repeat these steps with the second piece of long twine such that the loops crisscross at the top. Now tie the two loops together to form one hanger point. This will hold the jar in place so it doesn't flip over. You can also use sisal rope to make this hanging loop, or go for macramé yarn and tie it into a hanger using the same technique for making macramé plant hangers.

Now all that's left to do is make your own DIY nectar for the butterflies. And guess what, just like homemade hummingbird nectar, it's surprisingly easy to make: Mix one part of granulated sugar with nine parts water. Let the mixture boil to properly dissolve the sugar, then let it cool. Now pour the nectar into the jar to about an inch to an inch and a half to avoid exerting excessive pressure on the sponge, which may cause a leak. Screw in the lid and flip the jar upside down for hanging.

Position your feeder strategically in your yard where butterflies will be happy to land and feed. The best spot is sunny but also sheltered from the wind. Hang the feeder by the twine loops either on the branch of a tree or make a stand with a hook. Seat back and enjoy the magical atmosphere as butterflies come to drink from this free banquet.