Colorful blooming gardens offer a sensory feast for butterflies as well as gardeners and their guests. Even the most successful gardens only require a few basic steps.

*Think Color

Butterflies are attracted to diversity and color in the garden. The National Wildlife Federation suggests native flowers in red, yellow, orange, purple and pink that are "flat-topped or clustered, and have short flower tubes." HGTV suggests adding flowers with long, thin petals that butterflies can use as landing strips.

Perennials (plants that bloom year after year) cost more initially but, when planted properly, bloom over several growing seasons and may even naturalize (spread) to fill a space. An economical approach is to plan the garden, install a few plants, see what works and what may need to be moved and then add more over time. Make it a work in progress.

*Provide Protection, Rest Stops and Water

Butterflies are very susceptible to strong breezes, heavy rains and predators. Provide shelter and cover in the form of dense conifers. But don't block the sun. Coldblooded butterflies like the heat.

In addition to perches and sunny branches, flat rocks and pillars provide warm places to bask. And HGTV suggests providing shallow dishes filed with a mixture of coarse sand and soil saturated to the point of being wet, but without standing water, for butterfly rest breaks.

*Milkweed? Yes!

Butterflies lay their eggs on sappy milkweed plants, and the nectar is a food source for bees and other pollinators as well. All butterflies need both "host and nectar plants," according to Illinois butterfly garden creator and conservationist Susan Helm, who has planted 20 successful pollinator gardens. And this is of special concern for the world's declining migratory monarch butterfly populations. In fact, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has placed the monarch on its red list of endangered species due to habitat destruction and climate change. The simple step of planting a few milkweed varieties among your other annuals and perennials will help protect this fragile species. And for more variety, Park Seed, an online seed nursery, has a whole list of flowers that butterflies love.

Along the same line, for the best results, keep your gardens as organic as possible. Diverse plantings will attract a variety of natural predators that should reduce the need for pesticides and benefit your butterflies and children in a lovely ecosystem for all to enjoy.