Garden Learning

Our contained caterpillars, Princess and Jake, have been in their chrysalis' for over a week now. Isaac's caterpillar, Josepher (yes, Jo-seph-er) stopped eating so we released him and much to our surprise Isaac found yet another caterpillar in the garden Then he lost him in a thrilling game of "spin-the-caterpillar" in which a five year old wildly spins his arm for the enjoyment of his beloved caterpillar. The game ends with a caterpillar soaring across the full span of the backyard and three children quickly scattering as a sort of search and rescue team. Even with much pleading and calling to the caterpillar, he never came home. So, three, to two, then three again, and after a little fun, we were back to two caterpillars behind glass on the kitchen counter. I used two pasta sauce jars to contain our new friends. They ate like pigs for days and then got very still on the sticks we propped up for them. The next morning we found two chrysalis' where Princess and Jake had been "sleeping". According to the books we picked up at the library we have three weeks until the butterflies emerge.

With the garden in full swing the kids are learning a lot about produce. Like how much Dada nearly cries when they pick all the green tomatoes. Or, then there was the afternoon that Isaac picked all the flowers off the tomato plants. We're hoping to finally enjoy a tomato from the garden this weekend as long as we keep chasing the kids away with success for another few days. Even with all the garden pillaging I just can't be upset with Jack. He sees a tomato - size and color doesn't matter - he plucks it and triumphantly marches to the patio - "I picked this for you!" Because Jack loves to pick pretty things we have to keep him out of the neighbor's flower garden as well.

So, we have carrots still growing SLOOOOOWLY, the cilantro died (Jack), there are some big watermelons hidden in the vines, the bunnies ate the bean sprouts, the spinach has yet to surface, and the green peppers are doing well. They taste great. Oh, and we have one red pepper plant in the middle that B got by accident. I love red peppers. The parsley is coming back from the caterpillars and the basil is amazing. I pull from it almost everyday. Oh, and our lettuce was bitter so we just let it go and it grew really funky stalks that flowered - and Jack for whatever reason will not pick the pretty lettuce stalks. Go figure.