I feel like there is a monster in my garden. I'm serious.... .that's how I "feel". This morning, one son came in and said, "Mom, come and look at this worm... I don't know what kind it is." Okay, I do NOT like worms (except for the work they do in the soil... but I don't like to SEE them!), but I am a home school mom and I can be brave. (I think I can, I think I can, ......). SOOOO, I went out to see the worm.... expecting an earthworm type worm.
NOOOO, instead it was a big ugly hornworm.... not sure if it is a tomato hornworm or not, since we have never seen this color, but whatever he is, he is not welcome in my garden! He was right there on the garden path... and he sort of blended in a bit with the flagstone. I go out there every day and several times a day and I shuddered to think about stepping on that... that... that thing! Ewwww! Hideous. My son saw it because a catbird was trying to eat it, but the thing was too big, and there was a bit of a ruckus. (See, I said it was a monster!)
Being the calm and cool home school mom that I am (ahem), I sent my son to get a clean peanut butter jar as a
After he was safely inside the container with the lid on tight (it IS on tight, right Honey?), I remembered that we should put some holes in the lid, so my son did that and then a bit later, I realized I should get some pictures... so we can try to identify this thing.... My sons released the thing and I snapped a couple of pictures while my boys laughed at my shuddering and "ewws" while they loved protecting me from the thing. They can't understand why he repulses me so much, but he does. After a very brief photo session, the guys returned the monster back to his cage.
Anyway, now the guys have gone somewhere with their dad and I am working on this post. I was going to tell you how huge the thing is... because it is like 4 1/2"-5" long or so... I'm just sure.... Well, I like to be really honest, so I went out to the jar and measured that thing (ewww) and he is actually about 3"-3 1/2" long and is about 1/2" in diameter. Trust me, he looks a lot bigger. (I felt quite brave to do this by myself!)
Well, there you have it. We don't know where this thing was feeding... maybe on my tomatoes? The guys looked a bit but didn't see any relatives on the tomatoes, but they will look again... carefully.... it is hunting season for those monsters. Meanwhile, my trips to the garden are not quite as pleasant as they were yesterday when I had no idea of the intruder who was lurking somewhere out there. My eyes were darting around today when I went out there.... eventually I will stop expecting one of the monster's siblings to come into view, but for now, I am on high alert.
Seems there is never a dull day here ... things stay pretty exciting. I have been loving the tomatoes we are getting - they are just coming on pretty good, so I hope this threat to them is temporary. We'll see. I know that I will be MUCH more careful about tying up tomato plants now and what I touch out there.
Thank you for visiting my blog and listening to my tale of woe about the monster in my garden... it was so nice to have you. I hope you have a wonderful day (and that there are NO monsters in YOUR garden! ) :)
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OMYGOSH...that's the ugliest thing, ever. I would have screamed and run...
ReplyDeletebut then, I'm a big titty baby when it comes to critters.
After my guys good-naturedly laughing at me, your understanding is a big encouragement! We scaredy cats need to stick together! :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteYuck! We recently had lots of little monsters in our garden ... Aphids ... It definitely makes you think twice before you touch;0)
ReplyDeleteOh my.... that sounds awful - I hope you were able to convince them that they were NOT welcome! Thank you for stopping by and sharing my pain. :)
DeleteOh eeewww. I havent seen one of those in my garden yet (though now I will intentionally NOT look for it!). I had some fairly shiny reddish blackish japanese beetle looking things on my flowers this last weekend. They were leaving the produce alone and munching on my Four O'Clocks so I let them be - should have taken a photo though.
ReplyDeleteI like the gardening, but I hate the intruders!!! It is better when they aren't eating the produce and instead eat the flowers.... companion planting does work. :) Thank you for visiting. :)
Deleteoh my....the thing is hideous
ReplyDeleteWill you post a picture of the moth it turns into?
Thank you for agreeing w/ my opinion of the beast. Yes, I will plan to.... if it makes it that far. :)
DeleteOh, my! I would probably have passed out! LOL! YES, thank God for our brave little guys who are so sweet and intent on protecting their mamas. We are so abundantly blessed! God bless you. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, they are so precious to be our protectors.... and as they get older (teens), they like to gently tease Mom... and yet, they protect even more. What a blessing. Thank you for visiting. :)
DeleteScary looking critter.... I stopped in to thank you for stopping by my blog today and leaving a friendly note... I think your blog would interest my daughter who has a wee one and is always looking for ideas for food preservation.... I saw your dehydration links.... She may be stopping by.... from MAssachusetts.
ReplyDelete..
It was so nice to meet you .... and I would love for your daughter to drop by also... Thank you for visiting. :)
DeleteThose things are horrible and they do love tomatoes. Look carefully on the leaves and use a stick and jar to catch more that are probably there. Let the cat bird have her share too. Thank you for sharing your lovely post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” At: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThey are awful.... and we have looked very carefully.... I am hoping that the catbird somehow carried it here from a neighbor's garden since we found it on the garden path and not with the tomatoes. :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteThanks for my morning chuckle! So funny. =)
ReplyDeleteLinda @ thehopefulhome.blogspot.com stopping by from R&R
You're welcome.... I had to write it w/ a bit of humor.... to get my mind off of it! :) Thanks for stopping by.
Delete1/2 inch is pretty thick! I would have been repulsed too and probably would have "accidentally" forgot to put holes in the jar! Thanks for the great story! And for sharing this on the Art of Home-Making Mondays :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for agreeing w/ my assessment of it repulsiveness! :) We did put holes in the jar, but we think he is dead from being in the sun in his jar. So sad......
DeleteI think that horn worms turn into a hummingbird moth. If so, you will have quite a show.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right.... and we have seen one of those around.... They are amazing... but NOT in my tomatoes! :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteI think he is beautiful
ReplyDeleteWow.... I am surprised, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder! :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteJapanese beetles have been around my garden lately. Also the mosquitos have been really bad. But nothing like this.
ReplyDeleteI hear the Japanese beetles can be bad... I'm thankful we aren't having those.... I hope you get them under control! We do have mosquitoes.... but thankfully not many of these monstrous hornworms!. Thank you for visiting.
DeleteI despise those critters or creatures! I have been known to spend hours looking through my tomato vines until I find the one single thing that is eating its way through my crops! What a relief when I find it. I really don't spend hours, but it seems like it. :-)
ReplyDeleteLinda
I'm sure it does seem like hours... some very creepy hours!!! Eww..... I am so glad that my guys will look for them... and that we have had very few of them. Thank you for visiting. :)
DeleteI'll bet chickens just love those creatures!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they must... we don't have chickens, but that would be something to remember if we ever do. :)
DeleteOh sweet friend, how you made me smile with this post :) I can be the same way with other creatures in the yard. That is probably why I would rather be tucked away in my craft room rather than the garden....no monsters in my fabric and sewing notions {{smiles}} Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteYour comment made me smile also.... I like to think I am so brave... and sometimes I am, but yuck, I don't do monsters. shudder. :)
DeleteEwww! He'd being doing a nice job on some of your plants. Thanks so much for linking up to Thriving on Thursdays. Hope to see you this Thursday!
ReplyDeleteAnne @ Domesblissity xx
Thankfully, I think we got him before he did too much damage, although it damaged my ability to freely reach around my plants and work... I was always watching for more "monsters"! :)
DeleteThat thing would have had me running for sure....and I'm the chickens favorite bug finder! lol Thanks for sharing, I'll try not to have nightmares!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Green Thumb Thursday. We hope you'll stop back this week!
Lisa
Funny.... they are ugly, that's for sure. :) Thank you for visiting.
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