Ōtautahi / Christchurch Daily Photo

We had beautiful weather today so at lunchtime I decided to head to Woodham Park on Woodham Road. Every Autumn / Winter there are Monarch butterflies ‘over wintering’ in this park – clustering in their hundreds in the large trees. I didn’t see any clusters today – it may be too early yet, but I did capture quite a few single butterflies on various vegetation.

The park is a beautiful spot even without the butterflies, but the butterflies fluttering by make it just magical.

I waited and waited for this shot – I hoped that a monarch would land on the autumn leaves and one finally did, though I’d have preferred if it had of landed in the sunny spot!

And here’s why I think the Monarch’s like this park so much – there’s a ready source of nectar with this beautiful camellia in flower.