Design a Butterfly-Friendly Canyon Courtyard in Santa Fe

Creating a Wildlife Haven

The below-grade entrance to a Santa Fe home is ideal for butterflies, says designer Nate Downey. Multitiered raised beds and house walls protect from breezes. A central fountain provides water—after spilling down the column, it moistens rocks before disappearing underground; butterflies sip from wet rocks. Downey packed the area with nectar-rich lavender and buddleja.

Design Intervention

When brought in, the basic entrance design existed but plants had died. Downey added height to the tiered wall, filled with good topsoil, improved irrigation, and brought in butterfly- and hummingbird-attracting plants suited to the site.

Three Great Ideas

1. Use geology. Work with natural terrain to create a valuable microclimate; reflected warmth extends flowering season.
2. Low-tech water saving. Deep pipe irrigation (perforated PVC pipes with gravel) directed water to root zone during Stage 3 Drought Emergency.
3. Place nectar plants near the house. Downey put butterfly/hummingbird plants near windows and entrances so homeowners “open their front door and discover butterflies.”