A RENMARK woman’s garden has come to life, as dozens of butterflies descend on her front yard for the summer.
Irena Wilson started her butterfly garden in Glossop after being disappointed by the number of the insects in the Riverland.
Four years ago, Ms Wilson moved into a unit in Renmark, bring her plants – and beloved butterflies – with her.
Ms Wilson said her fascination with butterflies began when she was just a child.
“I’ve always been mad about butterflies since I was little,” she said.
“My brothers and I used to collect butterflies and grow them from caterpillars.
“My father would make the cases for us to display them in.
“We would display them properly with the dates and the location and everything.”
Ms Wilson’s garden is full of plants targeted at attracting hungry butterflies and caterpillars, including milk bush.
The garden features both native plants and species from fair afield, including California.
“The monarch butterflies know that I have the right food here for the caterpillars to eat,” she said.
“They don’t come every year – last year I didn’t have any butterflies because of the heat.
“I knew that if we could get some rain there would be butterflies, and it did rain so now they have come back and it is magic.”