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What, no wētā?
I look for wētā at night, but find spiders instead. Google helps me figure out why.
Jun 13 min read


Planting trees for the kids
We finally plant trees in the garden - one each for our children - but with no placentas to plant underneath, we improvise.
May 253 min read


Be a butterfly citizen scientist!
Keep your eyes open for overwintering groups of monarchs and monarchs with "tags".
May 172 min read


Yellow admirals flourishing
There are yellow admiral caterpillars everywhere, eating me out of house and home.
May 151 min read


Raising Reds
A guide how NOT to raise red admiral butterflies. Various disasters have hit my red admiral caterpillars but a few beautiful ones have made it to become butterflies.
May 133 min read


Autumn brings a lot of work
The lomandra is finally gone, but there is plenty still to dig up.
May 43 min read


What's the big deal about wasps?
Wasps. Why they are a big deal and what we can do, if anything, to get rid of the evil things.
Apr 176 min read


Yellow Admiral visitor
A beautiful yellow admiral butterfly visits unexpectedly to lay its eggs.
Apr 143 min read


Tales from the Garden: Dragonfly surprises
My first experiences of dragonflies in the new Auckland garden, but it all starts with an unusual butterfly sighting.
Apr 22 min read


Flowers for the common blue butterfly
What flowers attract common blue butterflies? Find out with a tour of the butterfly garden led by Zizina otis
Mar 302 min read


Visit to Franklin Farm's butterfly house
A visit to Franklin Farm's butterfly house is AMAZING and I watch monarchs on the beautiful range of flowers.
Mar 193 min read


English garden inspiration
English style flower gardens around Auckland to get inspiration from for my butterfly garden
Mar 163 min read


Planting for bush restoration and erosion prevention
I want to choose native plants that belong in this habitat, but I need to plant for erosion as well. Why I'm a native plant hypocrite.
Mar 97 min read


Water for wildlife
Every wildlife garden needs water, but its going to take a lot more work until I get it right.
Mar 23 min read


Tales from the garden: Cicadas
It's February and there are cicadas everywhere! Their songs are definitely the sound of summer!
Feb 233 min read


Big Backyard Butterfly Count
This week was I Love Butterflies week and the Big Backyard Butterfly Count. See what I spotted!
Feb 163 min read


Visit to West Lynn Gardens butterfly house
A visit to West Lynn Gardens butterfly house, filled with tropical planting and monarch butterflies
Feb 92 min read


At last! Monarchs!
Success! Monarchs finally arrive in the butterfly garden and I note which flowers are their favourites.
Feb 22 min read


Tales from the garden: Stick insect
I see a stick insect for only the second time and hope it won't be as long until the next sighting.
Jan 252 min read


Learning to love white butterflies
Cabbage whites are the only butterflies around and I begin to appreciate them.
Jan 193 min read
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