Discover the easy way to learn about
monarch butterflies and caterpillars

(even if you’re a total beginner)

so you can feel supported
instead of overwhelmed

and start experiencing the joy of
butterflies in your garden

Discover the easy way to learn about
monarch butterflies and caterpillars

(even if you’re a total beginner)

so you can feel supported
instead of overwhelmed

and start experiencing the joy of
butterflies in your garden

Want to raise monarch butterflies at home or school? Get my Quick Start Guide so you know what you need before you get started!

Hi, I’m Kathleen, aka the “Crazy Butterfly Woman”

I help butterfly enthusiasts, teachers, and parents to raise monarch butterflies at home or school, so that they can experience and share the joy of butterflies, while supporting the monarch species for future generations, with less stress and more confidence.

I started my journey with monarchs in the New Zealand summer of 2012/13, with just a few plants and big dreams of butterflies filling my garden. I had to learn just how much there is to learn about monarch butterflies to raise them successfully, but, over the past decade, I have raised over 2,000 butterflies.

I suppose you could say I’m a little obsessed with butterflies! Sometimes, in the early days, when I shared my obsession with friends, family, and (frankly) anyone who would listen, I was told I was “crazy” for the lengths I went to, to look after the caterpillars in my garden. After a while, I embraced the name! Hence, I’m the “Crazy Butterfly Woman”!

 

As word of my obsession spread to my kids’ primary school, I offered to bring some caterpillars and butterflies to show their classes. Before I knew it, I was talking to school kids in other classes about monarchs and their life cycle changes, answering questions from kids and teachers, and releasing butterflies. I’ve also helped teachers to set up habitats or displays in their classrooms for studies about the life cycle/metamorphosis and talked to parents about all things monarch.

Caterpillar Diaries started originally as a blog to share the progress of some caterpillars passed on to me, then it became a way to share my photographs, videos, observations, and other learnings about monarchs. Over the years, Caterpillar Diaries has evolved to reflect what I’ve learnt, not only from my own experience and observations from the past decade, but also from the experiences and research of others in various parts of the world.

Caterpillar Diaries is now a source of education and support for those on their own journey with monarchs – from those just starting out with a few plants to those with bigger dreams and plans for their butterflies. Here, you’ll find details and insights into the life of the monarch butterfly across all its life cycle stages, along with Fascinating Facts about monarchs, and regular updates on what’s happening in my butterfly garden through the season.

Let’s face it – raising monarch butterflies can be stressful!

When we start out raising monarchs at home or school – even if all we’re doing is encouraging them into our gardens – we think it’s going to be all rainbows and butterflies! Literally!

We happily look forward to watching the monarchs develop from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly. And we especially look forward to seeing the butterfly emerge from its chrysalis and take its first flight! Fascinating! Delightful! Everything will go smoothly, right?

Then reality hits. Most people don’t think about the pitfalls until after we start this little adventure – and things don’t go to plan. Things like suddenly having too many caterpillars or seeing our caterpillars struck by infections or eaten by predators. What else can go wrong?!

Want to have healthy caterpillars and beautiful butterflies while retaining your own sanity?

“Forewarned is forearmed”, right? That’s why Caterpillar Diaries is here to help prepare you for what’s in store in this journey before you start! Get my guide to learn about the pitfalls you’re most likely to come across on your journey with monarchs AND get tips to help!

One thing you’ll get from me here that you may not get anywhere else is the belief that YOUR health and wellbeing is at least as important as that of the monarchs. And that includes your mental health.

Inviting monarchs into your life can be hugely uplifting for your mental health – watching butterflies soar in the sky can seriously uplift your spirits! But this only works if we go into this adventure with our eyes open to the pitfalls and the mindset to prepare ourselves both mentally and practically to deal with whatever arises.