In my backyard is a mint plant that I hoped might grow to replace my lawn.
Many butterflies land on the flowers when it blooms.
I started researching their varieties as I began photographing them and became interested in the Wanderer, which is the Australian version of the Monarch.
It has distinctive white spots on a black body and magnificent wings coloured like autumnal leaves.
This type of butterfly arrived in Australia around the time my father's great-grandparents migrated here.
It is thought it may have been blown here by a cyclone, but found the imported milkweed plant that supports Monarch caterpillars and was able to survive.
My parents were both born in North America, so I've come to adopt the Wanderer as a symbol for my identity.
I've performed the song using a ukulele, as it is an instrument from the Pacific – the ocean that unites Australia, Japan and the USA.
