There are so many wonderful walking trails on Cape Cod. A really special trail can be found in Barnstable called the Long Pasture Butterfly Mosaic Trail. it is a series of ten native wildflower plots along a 1/4 mile trail through open fields. Here you will explore the most utilized nectaring and host plants for 30 butterfly species. The beautiful field is called a butterfly Mosaic because of all the beautiful colors.
The sanctuary also has a naturalist lead boat cruise and kayak tours, a vast tidal flat and beach overlooking Barnstable Harbor and farm animals.
I was especially interested in the plants that they have organized to attract the butterflies. Listed below is an outline of the host plants with the butterflies that they attract.
Plot 1- Golden Alexander- attracts the Eastern Black Swallowtail and Spicebush Swallowtail Butterflies
Plot 2- False Nettles-attracts the Red Admiral Butterfly
Sweet Everlasting & Pussytoes- attracts American Lady Butterfly
Thistles & Mallows- attracts Painted Lady Butterfly
Beardtongue, Lanceolate Plantain, Turtlehead- attracts Baltimore Checkerspot
Snapdragons-attracts Common Buckeye
Plot 3- Legumes- attracts Eastern Tailed Blue
Low Blue Berry Bush, Arrow wood and Choke Cherry- attracts Apring Azure Butterfly
Plot 4 – Dogbane, Legumes- attracts Southern Cloudywing
Dogbane, Bluestem Grass, Bearberry- attracts Delaware Skipper Butterfly
Plot 5- Bluestem Grass- attracts Common Wood- Nymph
Milkweeds-attracts Monarch Butterfly
Plot 6- Sheep Sorrel- attracts American Copper
Beach Plum, Choke Cherry-attracts Coral Hairstreak Butterfly
Plot 7- Birch, Willow, Poplar- attracts Morning Cloak Butterfly
Asters- attracts Pearl Crescent Butterfly
False Nettle, Red Maple- attracts Question mark Butterfly
Plot 8- Mustards, Wild Peppergrass- attracts Cabbage White Butterfly
Legumes-attracts Clouded Sulphur Butterfly
Legumes- attracts Orange Sulphur Butterfly
Plot 9- Dutchman’s Pipe- attracts Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly
Beach Plum, Willows, Black Cherry, Poplar- attracts Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Plot 10- Violets- attracts Bordered Fritillary Butterfly
Willow- attracts Viceroy Butterfy
Violets- attracts Great Spangled Fritillary
And I thought the Butterfly Bush that I love to purchase at our local Agway was the main butterfly attraction:)
I have very fond memories when I was a young girl of finding the monarch caterpillar that i found on milk weeds growing in a wild field near our home. We would place the caterpillar in a jar and give it fresh milk weed each day. It was so much fun watching the transformation and as a little child I remember thinking how magical nature can be.
We have beautiful gardens at our two Cape Cod Bed and Breakfasts, Brewster by the Sea Inn and Spa and the Captain Freeman Inn. This list of host plants to attract butterflies provided by the Mass Audubon Society has been really helpful as we are always looking for new ways to attract birds and butterflies to our Cape Cod gardens.
The Long Pasture Butterfly Mosaic Trail is well worth a visit during your Cape Cod holiday.
Cape Cod Activities 