Hi, I'm Kathleen

aka the "Crazy Butterfly Woman"

Hi, I'm Kathleen

aka the "Crazy Butterfly Woman"

I started my journey with monarchs in the New Zealand summer of 2012/13, after we moved from Wellington to the Kāpiti Coast and I was surprised to find monarchs visiting our garden. We’d had much smaller (native) butterflies, like the red admiral, where we’d lived previously, but few monarchs. And the monarchs seemed so big in comparison!

I bought a few swan plants – just a few – but quickly needed more, as I was inundated with caterpillars and my plants were reduced to stalks. That was beginning of my learning journey. I had to learn how to feed the caterpillars without being overrun, and how to deal with all the other issues that arose, alongside my own study of the monarchs at all stages of their life cycle through my camera lens.

It didn’t take long for me to become obsessed with monarchs and their fascinating life cycle and, especially, with the beauty and wonder of the butterflies in flight. There is something really special about watching butterflies you’ve tended since they were tiny caterpillars, emerge from their chrysalises and take off in flight!

Sometimes, 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”!

At different points in time, at least one of my kids or their friends were fascinated by the caterpillars and butterflies, so I offered to bring some caterpillars and butterflies to show their classes at school. And, before I knew it, I was talking to primary school kids about monarchs and their life cycle changes, answering their questions, and releasing butterflies. I’ve also helped teachers to set up habitats or displays in their classrooms for studies about the life cycle/metamorphosis, showed my video of the life cycle, and talked with parents and their kids about all things monarch.

Caterpillar Diaries started originally as a blog to share the progress of some caterpillars passed on to me by a fellow butterfly enthusiast, 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 of raising over 2,000 monarchs at home, but also from the experiences of other butterfly enthusiasts, both in New Zealand and internationally, and through keeping up with research by butterfly experts 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.

A central feature of Caterpillar Diaries remains my own close-up photographs and videos (which I’m pleased to say have improved over the years), where I aim to show details too small for the naked eye. 

Caterpillar Diaries is also designed to be kid-friendly! If you’re a monarch butterfly enthusiast who’s also a parent, chances are you’ll want to share what you’re seeing and learning with your kids. Or you may be a teacher wanting to teach a unit on metamorphosis with monarch butterflies as the example. 

Here, in addition to information and details about the monarch life cycle that will increase your confidence in what you’re teaching, you’ll find guidance on raising or encouraging monarchs in your garden to prepare you for all the pitfalls (which you often don’t find out about until you start) and reduce the stress or overwhelm that can occur.

I hope you enjoy your monarch journey with Caterpillar Diaries!