Monarch Butterfly

At the beginning of the year we decided to grow Swan plants in our previous vegetable garden patch.  Despite, having some issues with predators, namely the paper wasp, there have been a few successes.   Luckily we have been able to bring some small caterpillars inside, as well as some tiny eggs on the leaves.   Today after all the anticipation, watching the small caterpillars grow and through the metamorphous process change into a chrysalis and then today a beautiful Monarch butterfly.   Which we later let go back into our Uxbridge playground– hopefully for another chance to begin this cycle again—How  fascinating!  To extend on this interest we have also used finger plays , magnetic  songs,  circle butterfly games , butterfly art and of course the favourite story “The  Very Hungry Caterpillar”

The insects came out to play!!

Can you see the legs hiding in the spout of the teapot?  Iris and Finlay were a little shocked to discover they had a uninvited visitor to their tea party.

Iris thought it was a spider.  We discovered it wasn't Incy Wincy, or any other spider in fact.

We moved the teapot to the fence and repeatedly flushed the water spout..... and finally we saw the owner of the legs.

It reversed out of the spout and fell from the teapot and it didn't appear short nor stout.It was a beautiful, really active,  Weta.

  It was rather thin, and appeared grumpy as it climbed up the fence.

Wetas are nocturnal so it was probably unhappy to be disturbed.

Next Mila said she had found a snake in the sandpit.  After a quick dip in Finlay's bucket we discovered the grey snake was actually a worm.

We discussed the best location for the worm to make its new home and the flower garden was the popular choice.

Renee then found a Ladybug.  A blue one, this is the last time I saw it.  Who knows where it will turn up tomorrow, or if we will have any more visitors coming out to play at Uxbridge.

Our sensory garden!

As part of our playground plans we wanted to include a sensory and herb garden.  We have started off with a planting little Rosemary, spring onions and lemon balm and hope to add more in the future. Thanks Mia who very kindly helped with the planting today x

There's a shark in the park!!

A new sculpture in the playground was quickly noticed by our friend Noah and some of his friends this morning "There's a shark in the park"!! they shouted out loudly to alert everyone.  Well fancy that!! It does look a little like a shark fin.  It's amazing all the little details in the playground that are noticed and how we connect and recall things. Shark in the Park is yet another favourite kindy book.

 

What's the commotion??

There was excitement as a beautiful Monarch butterfly flew in and came to lay some eggs on our swan plants in the butterfly garden today.  We watched as it flew from one leaf to another, going from one swan plant to the next.  We wondered how many eggs it might have laid and how many baby caterpillars will hatch in our garden. We wondered if it would be 24 just like the baby dinosaurs in a favourite story.  We were advised to hang CD's on our swan plants to keep those nasty wasps away, we hope it works!  We have kept two chrysalises inside for safe keeping and hope to capture the moment when it turns into a beautiful butterfly.  It is so amazing watching and learning all about the lifecycle of the butterfly.

 

Backyard Artists!

Our new playground is beautiful and as we sit amongst it this afternoon in the sunshine, our artists capture what they see......  "I can see a rainbow" says Frankie

Memories of our holidays at the beach!

Renee tells us all about her adventures at Hot water beach as she creates a beach scene collage out of the shells and seaweed.  We love our conversations, sharing special memories and experiences from our holidays with our families....