We are giving away free seeds of the swan plant (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) which can be grown anywhere in New Zealand. Plant these early in spring and when the plants are big enough the Monarch butterflies will lay eggs on them. It's a delightful experience to share with your children, watching the Monarchs laying eggs, watching the eggs turn into caterpillars, seeing how quickly the caterpillars grow and then watch them pupate (turn into a chrysalis, or pupa) and then for the butterflies to emerge.

Very educational and lots of fun. Just send a stamped, self-addressed DL envelope to "FREE SEED", MBNZT, PO Box 44100, Pt Chevalier, Auckland 1246.

We suggest that when your seeds arrive you get an egg carton and fill the egg "cups" with dirt, just any old dirt will do. Sprinkle the seeds on the surface and lightly cover with a sprinkling of very fine dirt. Water, and keep damp and in a sunny position. That's it! Your plants should grow and you will learn all about snails - because they love the seedlings too. There are ways of controlling snails and slugs available on our website, so you don't need to rush out and buy a product.

Soon your plants will be large enough to plant out and hopefully in the spring Monarchs will do their bit. Now there will be more to learn about Nature. One female Monarch can lay hundreds of eggs, and some are destined to be food for other animals or will succumb to disease etc. That's absolutely natural! But while you're watching you're learning more about the environment around us. More information on our website, www.monarch.org.nz Ask questions in our forum, www.monarch.org.nz/forum.

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