Anyone in or near Christchurch?
You might like to check this out.
You might like to check this out.
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HA! Resolution #1 achieved. (See below, 1/1/2018) With the help of an expert, my son, who took more than half an hour - going through the process I had, then working out the next vital step. "Unnecessarily complicated," he concluded. But, we've done it. So here are 2 pix. Taken Christmas morning at Takapuna Beach, Auckland.   As predicted, resolution #3 was broken immediately.
But a kaleidoscope of new butterflies are winging their way in the neighbourhood to live their lives and be admired. I received several personal responses to my previous post (below, 1/1/2018) Thank you for them all. It seems there are quite a few butterfly fanciers out there. Perhaps slaves is a more apt term. One friend, Susan, seems as enslaved as I am. And more obsessed. She says – Monarchs! I have a large swan plant by my door and tend them loyally. 1/ I count the caterpillars at least 3 times a day. 122 last week. 2/ I rescue them off the path when they drop. 3/ I insist visitors come and admire them. 4/ I photograph them. Did you know they actually 'fight'? 5/ When the tree is stripped, I am always shocked! 6/ I google alternative foods. Last year, they ate pumpkin. This year it is cucumber and melon. 7/ I joined a Facebook group for them last year. Then I withdrew when I realised I wasn't up to their level of obsession. I do not bring them inside (well, I currently have one chrysalis in the kitchen because...) I do not travel miles to spread them among other swan plants etc. [Note: a later message upped the inside count to 3] 8/ When a butterfly comes near me, I coo 'My baby!' 9/ I am obsessed. If the tree dies this year I won't mind. They take up sooo much time. 10/ Currently, there are 10 chrysalis (plural) on my walls and downpipe. 11/ I battle wasps and go ape when they attack a caterpillar. Crush them in my bare hands. 12/ I am obsessed and exhausted and hope the tree dies. To which my response is – A: Caterpillars can eat a little pumpkin if they are just about ready to go into cocoon – otherwise the butterflies are likely to emerge deformed. I have had very minor success with frangipani leaves – same family of plant, strangely. Even stranger, I think, they’re not interested in milkweed, also the same family and looks much more like swan plant. B: Caterpillars are stupid. I am constantly saving them from their mindless actions. I have now have another dozen safely into chrysalis stage, at much effort on my part as they insist on doing things like attaching themselves to a leaf rather than to the experienced hanging sticks I provide. Another caterpillar eats the leaf and the chrysalis drops. Whereupon I sigh heavily and attach them to a stick with cotton or a clip. C: The trees last only a couple of years. Then hundreds of tiny seedlings spring up and butterflies lay eggs on them. D: Butterflies are stupid. E: The caterpillars strip the seedlings in moments. So then I am rescuing starving caterpillars and searching for, and buying more plants. F: I am stupid. G: I don’t, though, crush wasps with my bare hands. Last summer I was stung twice just by being in the garden minding my own business. H: It’s a slight relief to find there are others out there who are at least, and even more, obsessed than I am. So, Susan, Val, Anne and others – cheers!  |
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