Yes, a butterfly garden can indeed attract bees, and that’s generally a good thing! Both butterflies and bees are pollinators, which means they play a crucial role in helping plants reproduce. By visiting flowers for their nectar, these insects inadvertently carry pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts, fertilizing the plants and allowing them to produce fruit and seeds.

The same flowers that attract butterflies often attract bees as well. This is because many of the characteristics that make a plant appealing to butterflies—such as bright colors, sweet scents, and abundant nectar—also make them attractive to bees.

Plants that are popular with both butterflies and bees include: Aster, Black-eyed Susan, Coneflower (Echinacea), Milkweed, Sunflower, Butterfly bush (Buddleia), Lavender, Sage, Thistle, Goldenrod.

Remember to opt for a variety of plants that bloom at different times to provide a continuous food source throughout the seasons. Also, try to avoid using pesticides in your garden, as these can be harmful to both butterflies and bees.

It’s also worth noting that bees are generally not aggressive and are unlikely to sting unless they feel threatened. Nonetheless, if you’re concerned about attracting bees because of an allergy or a similar issue, you might want to consider consulting with a local gardening or wildlife expert for advice on creating a garden that’s more specifically tailored to attract butterflies. Feel free also to reach out to Johnny!

In summary, if you are attracting butterflies, you are probably attracting bees as well. Together, they will work hard to bring life to your garden… one day at a time!