The ethereal joys of a butterfly garden

It's only after watching a metamorphosis that I truly appreciate the magical world of butterflies. Only when the wet silken rags emerged from the cocoon and gradually dried and stiffened into the loveliest wings did I appreciate the delicacy of a butterfly's flight.

Last October I was inspired by gardening presenter Sophie Thomson's experience of scooping caterpillars into rose bowls filled with their favourite foods and watch their metamorphosis so I decided to plant a butterfly garden, albeit a rough one of just a few suitable plants (such as the swan plant (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) and buddleia) plonked into a space in the grass just off my driveway.

Throughout the summer the plants grew and the numbers of emerging butterflies increased quickly so that guests staying on the property were often surrounded by a fluttering of numerous butterflies. Now with the garden expanding, I expect that the coming summer will be filled with clouds of monarchs, painted ladies and no doubt a few cabbage whites. They're all very welcome. Their ability to float on the breeze is a glimpse of utter freedom.