I love Kahikatea Common our first event was Butterflies and Pizza, and this one was Swan Plants and Roller Skates, where anything goes. I got reminded that my community event “giant swan plant sale/roller disco which would be run by kids to raise money for their various causes randomly came to me in the shower … Continue reading Giant Swan Plant Sale
Swan Plants & Toxicity
Asclepias Swan Plant Botanical Name: Asclepias physocarpa/Gomphocarpus physocarpa The Swan Plant is loved by many Kiwis, as it's the host plant of the Monarch Caterpillar, which lives on the plant for approximately 2 weeks eating as many leaves as possible, before transforming into a beautiful Monarch Butterfly. I have come across many ECE educators who … Continue reading Swan Plants & Toxicity
F.A.Q & Helpful Tips
Everything you need to know about Aphids. https://videopress.com/v/Kty0fyQa?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true What happens when I run out of Swan Plants? Buy more or simply before you start raising monarchs, make sure you have a sufficient amount of plants ready. You can never have enough, the key is to cover your seedlings and your plants that you have purchased and … Continue reading F.A.Q & Helpful Tips
Butterfly Goddess
I wanted a special Monarch Butterfly dress for a long time and I knew Jo Kidd was amazing, and I just had to wait for the right time for the dress to be designed and created and Jo didn't disappoint. August I finally got my new amazing Butterfly dress from Jo Kidd Couture, an amazingly … Continue reading Butterfly Goddess
Monarchs in Decline & Sustainability
I grate me to print such a title, but sadly it's true. Monarch butterflies are here to teach us many things, and they need our help in boosting their numbers. Imagine living in a world where there are no butterflies? Today we are living in a world where there are so many endangered animals and species … Continue reading Monarchs in Decline & Sustainability
Caring for your Swan Plants (Milkweed)
Caring for your swan plants over winter months Swan plants (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) originate from the Asclepiadiae family, which is a species of Milkweed. Most Swan plants survive the winter if they have been cared for and nourished with water and re-potted either in a larger pot or into the ground. Sometimes Swan plants struggle to grow … Continue reading Caring for your Swan Plants (Milkweed)
Chrysalides: The Good and the Bad
I often get many questions and people email me photos of their chrysalides that they are not sure about. I thought I would share my knowledge and experience with chrysalides with everyone. These chrysalides below are all healthy, you will notice the wings of the monarch a couple of days before emergence begins. It just so … Continue reading Chrysalides: The Good and the Bad
Healthy Caterpillars and Swan Plants
I had my first successful chrysalis of the season this week!! I’m so far behind this year. Furthermore, I had heaps of caterpillars, but I lost many within 24hrs due to my next-door neighbour who booked in the spider proofing man round to her house!! Chemicals were sprayed a few metres from all of my … Continue reading Healthy Caterpillars and Swan Plants
Tauranga Bay – Monarch butterfly paradise in Northland.
Here in Tauranga Bay just 40 minutes north from Kerikeri in the Far North, I discovered one of the best spots in New Zealand for camping. Beautiful, clean, golden sandy beaches with amazing views of all the islands in the bay. Within minutes, I spotted about a hundred giant swan plants (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) as I’ve … Continue reading Tauranga Bay – Monarch butterfly paradise in Northland.
