November 2025 I have written about copper butterflies previously , and how I was planting muehlenbeckia, their host plant, despite the butterfly garden being over half a kilometre from the coast and perhaps not providing the right environment for copper butterflies. They are most likely to be found within sight of a beach (as are most New Zealanders, to be fair) but the inland sightings on iNaturalist gave me a little hope. I have three types of muehlenbeckia now, with two j

Yellow-legged hornets, Vespa velutina, have been found nearby and I try more traps and recipes for wasp capture

I make a barrel pond with New Zealand native pond plants and there are already visitors!

Killing wasps now saves butterflies. Find out the unusual place I found a paper wasp nest.

A carnivorous moth? I find an unassuming, at-risk species of moth in the garden and have my eyes opened.

Birkenhead's birdlife is flourishing. Each garden has something to offer, which makes for great birdwatching

Updating the actions on the project plan for the year ahead. The ultimate garden to-do list.

Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand (MBNZT) certification is given to best practice butterfly and moth habitats. How does Auckland Butterfly Garden stack up so far?

Flowering plants are going into the flower beds and borders, ready for spring. I also take a road trip to see a very special nursery.

All praying mantis eat butterflies, but South African mantis also eat New Zealand mantis. This means war.

Butterflies and moths seen this winter in the garden, including a rare newcomer to New Zealand, which triggered a biosecurity alert.

Turns out there is lots going on at night in the garden. Possums are sauntering around.

A new trail camera helps me uncover the answers to the garden's great mysteries

After a month of work we have new garden beds and cleared borders. Bring on spring!

I put chew cards out to test for predators. The rats let me know just how many of them were still in the garden.

What plants worked best in the small butterfly garden this summer? What will I continue to grow and what will be abandoned?

A kaka comes to visit on Matariki and we watch it foraging for wood boring insects

Which butterflies visited in summer 2024/25? Which didn't?

Why winter gardening is not recommended. The heavy work to expand the butterfly garden means getting muddy.

Yellow admiral butterflies are eclosing daily, despite the winter weather.