Just For The Birds is For The Butterflies, Too

The warm summer weather is a great time for watching those gentle, colorful creatures — butterflies — and there is much to enjoy, as there are roughly 100 species of butterflies that regularly inhabit the Houston area. With that much variety, guidebooks come in handy, and Just For The Birds, a specialty shop for wildlife enthusiasts, has those in its inventory.

“I carry many books and quick reference guides to show you both what the caterpillars and butterflies look like to identify them and also the list of nectar and larval plants that you need,” said Kathy Coward, owner of Just For The Birds.

There is a bit more to attracting butterflies than just sprucing up the garden. Flashy flowers works best, but nectar and larval food plants are important. Most caterpillars will feed only on a narrow range of host plants, while adult butterflies visit a wide range of blossoms in search of nectar.

Butterflies will also use butterfly feeders that feature a place for nectar with wicks, as well as a place for very ripe fruit.

“I also carry butterfly houses, which they use to hide from predators and to enter in bad weather,” Coward said. “There are pros and cons on how useful the butterfly houses are, but they are also decorative in the yard or garden. Come by the shop to talk bird or butterfly; it's great fun.”

For more information about the products carried by Just For The Birds, contact Just For The Birds at 281-288-9019.  To see its wide array of products, visit the specialty shop at 209 Main St. in Old Town Spring or go online at www.justforthebirds.com. For shipment, depending on availability, allow two to three days delivery via UPS.

About Just For The Birds

Just For The Birds is a small, independently-owned shop located in the restored turn-of-the-19th-Century railroad town of Old Town Spring. Kathy Coward is the owner. She began the business in 1994 out of a “labor of love.” She is very knowledgeable about birds and birding as the former president of the oldest and most respected Piney Woods Wildlife Society from 2001-05. Just For The Birds offers a collection of gifts for bird lovers of all ages along with products for wild birds, squirrels, butterflies and bats.