00:00 The Smithsonian's butterfly garden features four distinct habitats.
00:06 Each plays a key role in a butterfly's life.
00:10 The wetlands habitat provides essential nutrients not available in dry soils.
00:16 The wetland habitat would be a habitat where you would see plants that would be native to a low-lying area, a bog, or along a stream.
00:26 Most of these plants in here are going to be native perennials and woody plants,
00:30 although we do mix in some annuals and tropicals to extend our blooming season and provide more nectar for the butterflies.
00:39 We're moving into our meadow habitat, and you can see here as we go down some examples of some plants that would exist in a meadow or a sunny, open area.
00:50 Butterflies are cold-blooded animals. They cannot regulate their body temperature as we can.
00:56 So in the early mornings, a lot of times you'll see butterflies basking in the meadow with their wings spread to collect heat from the sun.
01:05 Next is the woodland habitat.
01:08 A lot of people don't think of woodlands as being really beneficial habitat for butterflies,
01:13 but actually the trees and the shade that's provided here is very important.
01:17 And in the hottest part of the day, especially in the summer, a lot of times you'll see butterflies in the woodlands habitat,
01:23 hanging from the trees and roosting in order to cool themselves.
01:27 Just as important to butterflies' survival as wild spaces are urban gardens.
01:33 Good ones offer butterflies a buffet.
01:37 So we're now entering the urban or backyard habitat of the butterfly habitat garden.
01:41 In this habitat, what we try and do is use varieties that will stay smaller so that the average person can use them in their backyard.
