It feels like fairyland at West Lynn Garden, writes Sarah Ell
With an increase in the number of predatory wasps, the monarch butterfly population is in decline. This summer we have had the odd visitor to our garden but, sadly, our swan plants have remained unmolested by chubby striped caterpillars. It's a shame: not only are the butterflies pretty to look at, but the children love watching the changes through the life cycle (blame The Very Hungry Caterpillar!).
So, this summer we had to go a bit further afield for a close-up look at the butterflies and the stages of their life cycle.
West Lynn Garden describes itself as "Auckland's hidden jewel" and it is certainly hidden but, with a little help from Google Maps we found it, deep in surburban west Auckland.
The 4.5ha garden was originally planted in the early 1980s, and is run by an incorporated society and teams of volunteers.
Its flash new function centre has just opened, as the garden is a popular venue for weddings and other community functions.
It's only $3 a person to get in (under-2s are free), but remember to bring cash, as the fee is deposited in an honesty box.
We visit on a beautiful late summer's weekday and the garden is quiet, except for a couple of small groups of mothers with prams.
The butterfly house is near the entrance, and is large and fully enclosed. Once we're in, it takes a few seconds to realise the place is humming with butterflies - well, not humming exactly, but you can definitely hear the beating of their wings.
Monarchs hang from the roof, sun themselves on the plants and flutter gently about from bush to bush.
If you stand still enough - and are wearing a pink T-shirt, apparently - they will land on you.
The best part is, you can get really close to them - unlike "wild" monarchs, which tend to flit away when approached in the garden.
These monarchs are used to human company and are happy to sit and be admired. It is an amazing experience to get really close and watch one "drinking" nectar from lantana and other flowers, uncurling its black proboscis and dipping it into the centre of the blooms to suck up the good stuff.
There are plenty of caterpillars to marvel at, too.
They are weirdly fascinating to watch as they methodically chomp their way through a swan plant. We can't spot any bright green chrysalises but I'm sure quite a few are pupating away in the greenery.
After getting our fill of butterflies, we explore the rest of the garden. There are numerous well-maintained, signposted paths winding through the diverse mix of native and exotic trees.
This would be a great place for a game of hide and seek, and is definitely suitable for playing fairies - it has a real enchanted forest feel about it.
Seating areas are plentiful, as are picnic tables and places to run around.
My 4-year-old is fascinated by the banana palm - see, they do grow on trees - and makes more than one visit to the weta motel to see the spiky-legged beasties.
