Aside : help! swan plants needed

We have so many monarch butterfly caterpillars that they are devouring the swan plants faster than we can replace them. It's a real battle to keep one step ahead.

Aside : more on monarch butterflies

We were really lucky to catch them just after they hatched while they sat on the swan plants opening and closing their wings waiting for the wings to harden up.

Aside : Monarch butterflies in the garden

In NZ, Monarch butterflies feed mainly on swan plants.

By the end of the season, the swan plants are completely eaten. Garden centres sell swan plants which you place in your garden to help protect the habitat and encourage breeding.

As you can see, the "birds have flown".