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

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?

The planting of native shrubs and trees has taken months, but they help the garden become a better wildlife haven.

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.

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

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

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.

Our not quite Insta-worthy dead hedge and definitely not butterfly worthy nettle bed is constructed

We finally plant trees in the garden - one each for our children - but with no placentas to plant underneath, we improvise.

Keep your eyes open for overwintering groups of monarchs and monarchs with "tags".

There are yellow admiral caterpillars everywhere, eating me out of house and home.