It's all happening with monarch butterflies and their caterpillars, the circle of life, once again here at Struan Farm.
The butterflies that hatched from their chrysalides a few weeks ago mated and laid eggs in my large regenerated swan plant, along with the other smaller plants I've spread around the back garden and the new "butterfly reserve" on the edge of our roadside bank. I was counting 15 or so at one time floating around the gardens at our house, as well as seeing others around the property. Caterpillars are now in evidence, big time.
I'm expecting my main job will be shuttling caterpillars off the smaller swan plants they've munched down onto other plants in a different part of the gardens, until the chrysalides start to form. I'll be standing by for that over the next few days, between farmstay guests from the USA, New Zealand, and Argentina.
The butterflies that hatch from this next wave will live over winter, migrating to wherever they go here in New Zealand, and mate next spring. Hopefully they will return to do that here at Struan Farm.
They will be back! They know where they are well off! might even bring frinds!!! :)
Posted by: Jen Yates | 03/14/2018 at 09:15 AM