You can just paint a piece of wood for a sign. Some of the gals in the forum here use "marine varish" to protect their outdoor projects from the elements. Although I've never used it, I get the feeling it holds up better and longer than just decorative paint sealants.

This sounds like a neat idea - have you seen butterflies using it yet? Just wondering if they do - might have to try this in my garden.

Arlene

Butterflies use puddles to get the minerals they need. If you add a bit of soil to the watering hole, they will use it more often. We call these "mud puddles", which sounds awful, but they love them and they need the minerals they provide.

That is really a nice idea. If my dog weren't so nosy and oafish, I would do the same thing. I cant even, in good concience, encourage birds to visit my garden b/c my Weimeraner immediately chases them and makes them feel unwelcome- ha ha. I did however, snap this pic of a visiting butterfly last year.

{{gwi:167204}}

Was thinking either clay or wood -- but had enough questions for either, still wasn't sure how to do it. For wood, well, I bought a "Welcome to My Garden" wooden sign several years ago that is now falling apart in layers -- like dog-eared (no Weimeraner reference implied LOL) paper. What kind of wood would last for a while without rotting or peeling? Also, which type of paint do I use? (We have a boat store fairly close by, so can get the varnish.)

angela, I was looking for other's butterfly signs to get ideas, and found out about mud holes. First time I heard about including mud, but it didn't tell why. I would think the rocks would have the trace minerals, but, hey, butterflies know what they're doing. Thanks for the idea.

Arlene, haven't seen any use it yet, however, saw one sucking up run off water drizzling down our concrete ground. Does that count?! LOL I've only had it up for a week, and the first half of the week it rained constantly, and I've been having health problems that have slowed down my visits to my garden, so not seeing them use it, doesn't necessarily mean they haven't. I'm still thrilled to see so many butterflies in my yard. I am shocked at the variety, considering we're a mile from the nearest full-fledged park.

snick, you might consider making your butterfly garden in containers where "Shotzy" (I've only met two Weimeraners in my life and both were named Shotzy LOL) won't go -- maybe on a table. My watering hole is on top of the children's round picnic table, right next to a small container of verbana, watched by a sleeping gnome, and a mere 4 feet from my container of flowers guaranteed to be loved by butterflies, along with a variety of other flowers they also like.

Thanks for the help, and love your photos! Looks professional!

Lynn

Wow,some great tips here:) I didn't know about the "mud",I'll try that! I'd paint it on a piece of 1x4,or other wood you can find. There's always something laying in a ditch or trash pile somewhere! Even new construction sites,that'd be a great place to look for scrap lumber.

My favorite way to print a sign is by a wood burner on rustic wood. But if you don't seal it, it fades.

Included is a picture of a sign I did on a slab of English walnut my dad cut for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:167202}}

I have several signs outside. I'm a sign-aholic! LOL I have used pine and also plywood for my signs. The key is to really paint the wood well or at least seal it really good when you are done. I just use clear spray paint from Wal-Mart to seal my items, wood and anything else. You may have to touch up the sign over the years but you should get at least two summers if not more out of it this way. Good luck!

snicky. what type of camera did you use to get such a clear picture? name and what price range if you don't mind.
what's happened to our butterflies. i hardly ever see one.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to y'all after all your help! Had a sore right jaw. Finally got so bad that I went to the ER. Had an infection, so took some antibiotics. Ends up, it wasn't a sore jaw -- two teeth have to be removed. Jaw's not sore anymore, but, obviously dumb to not remove the teeth! (Ones a wisdom tooth, so I figure that one generally is removed decades ago, so not too bad!)

Anyway, thanks for all the ideas. I loved the burnt sign by quidem! Do you use a sodering iron to do it, and is there anything to do with the wood to make sure it doesn't disinegrate over time? Please let me know all the secrets -- with a sign that good looking, I sure hate to go through all the work, just to have it last for a year or two! LOL

Since making the butterfly watering hole, I haven't seen any butterfly enjoying it (although some like to sun themselves on the children's picnic table that the watering hole sits on.) On the other hand, several bees and flies have enjoyed it. I love bees in my garden, but not keen on the flies. Oh well, no such thing as a perfect garden!

I've also created a propagation nursery out of the the grilling basket for tools on our grill converted into an herb garden! Needed slabs of wood for that, so can make a burnt sign for that too! I'm picturing "Shhh! Baby plants growing!" LOL

For now, the sign making is on hold! Had another idea for my garden that I finally have time to make. (It's nice when there are no more plants to pot, transplant, replace, etc.! LOL) Even though we don't have kids, I'm fond of stuffed animals. (My screenname is the name of one of my stuffed animals, actually. LOL) I'm in the process of making a topiary of a Teddy Bear for my ivy! It will look great in a container garden full of children's picnic tables, a Radio Flyer red wagon, little teddy bear figurines, gnomes, and turtles. LOL

I've had a pond beside my patio for three years and have noticed there are many butterflies on the flowers surrounding it. I didn't realize until yesterday that they sit on the lily pads in the pond to drink. I guess that's why I have so many more in that part of the yard than in my other gardens.

My sister has a butterfly "beach" on the shore of her pond. They put sand down for the butterflies to stand on. Not sure how well it works but it looks cute! And it makes sense after hearing they need minerals from the soil.

I like the wood burned sign too. Very cute and it looks fairly simple to make. As for sealer, you can get a spray can of sealant just about anywhere you would find spray paint. Look for a marine sealant to make it waterproof.

Love the "Shhh! Baby plants growing!" sign idea too!