Or should I say, hello horn worm, to be proper?
Don't live with me if you don't want to find me standing over your bed, very early in the morning (before you have even thought about opening your eyes), dangling this above your head, going…
HEY! Look at this!
Almost gave Lovee a heart attack.
I never saw someone go from fully asleep, to across the bed gasping bad words, that quick ever.
He he he.
Heehee.
It's huge.
More than massive.
Notice the size of my thumb in relation to the size of it?
It's not the first one I have found.
Gobbling at the speed of light.
This morning's pumpkin patch hunt in my garden got a little wacky, you see.
I am sure you could give two hoots about the trials and tribulations of me and, the bugs.
But on the way, we encountered all sorts of little horrors damaging this and that.
As far as bug fear goes…
I think I have become bug immune.
And rodent immune.
I used to run off squealing at the sight of a mouse.
Now I just shrug and go, oh white mouse.
(In my best Eeyore voice)
Oh, giant caterpillar.
Yawn.
Oh, 10 ant hills.
Loveeeeeeeeee!
The only time I cry is when the ants + caterpillars have been eating all the leaves off my citrus trees and rose bushes.
(Update: we just figured it out, the abundance of butterflies this year are creating these caterpillars that are eating all the citrus leaves. We saw a bunch of HUGE yellow and black butterflies, called Giant Swallowtails, in action – laying eggs. Awe man, but I love butterflies, now I want to save them. What to do? Click here and you'll see what I mean)
Like yesterday.
We are having a huge epidemic of something I had never seen.
Huge plants being stripped of their leaves.
I pick off the culprits, if I can find them.
Then I freak out in my mind.
As I feel very plant protective in some sick lady manner.
I take being the guardian of any living thing extremely serious.
No really, I do.
Annoyingly so, probably.
I am very territorial too.
But, that's another tale.
I whine to Mister Lovee about the eaters of my plants.
Then he feels sorry for me, and helps me try to get rid of the pests.
That –
Or he is just sick of me whining.
Both.
Isn't hearing someone whine just awful?
I do it so well.
What about you?
What is your main whine to your significant other?
Do you have a main whine topic?
Tell me, tell me, tell me.
You never think about that part when your heart wants a garden.
The never ending critters and insects who love your garden too.
🙂
Ah well, they need to eat also.
I guess, you are doing something good, even if it doesn't make you happy.
This morning the boys and I set off to collect more pumpkins.
We do this a lot lately, but I don't take photos all the time.
Some big punkins needed to be collected.
The stems were already drying, as the vines had died.
Yet, more vines are still growing, gifting lots of babies.
And other big boys are still ripening.
Pumpkin stems are covered with painful spines, so you just gently scrape them off before you dare pick up a pumpkin.
I am in this strange garden daze mode.
My brain won't compute the size of the pumpkin patch.
Or all the pumpkins.
I can't explain it.
I am excited about them.
But, in a way.
I am…
Foggy that I grew them.
It's weird.
Does that make sense?
Do you ever look at your kids in amazement that you grew them?
That they are here.
That you have kids?
(of course, I am not comparing having kids to growing pumpkins)
With these interesting personalities, and ideas all of their own?
I wonder these things.
That is one GIANT fairytale pumpkin above.
I'd say it is about 20 inches across.
They (fairytale pumpkins) turn a sort of caramel orangey light brown when ripe.
They are the most incredible for eating.
Bright orange flesh.
Succulent.
The one above grew stem face down, as most of them do.
So, I flipped it over – ever so carefully, early last month.
That kept it from rotting.
I have had to flip them all often.
Not easy getting into that pumpkin patch, but quite fun.
They rot so much easier than Jack-o-lanterns, if against moist soil.
Some of the vines got gobbled by insects.
So, they are ripening off the vine.
They are turning from greenish to full caramel, so that is good.
I feel like I am babbling in some strange zombified fashion.
I am some boring growing things girl aren't I?
Talking about bugs and the weather.
🙂
It rained for 4 days straight.
Cloudy too.
A huge treat.
The weather shifted a little.
I dare say, I tasted a hint of autumn air.
I did.
Window open nights.
Also…
I have been spending countless hours painting.
Packaging some orders too.
And painting some more.
The paint is waiting for me to return, as I type.
But I wanted to pop in because I was in the zone, and losing track of time completely.
Oddness.
I love oddness.
Curious time warps.
And, painting til you drop.
Looooooove, V
ps:
Just Because.
I think I'll go with the guy's arm movements at 1:19
Tell me you aren't moving your shoulders a little?
Maybe you should just stand up and dance?
Just go for it 🙂
Sooohooo sooohooo soooohoooo…
I am laughing! I would’ve freaked out too, like Mister. So funny though! I know exactly what you mean by feeling ‘foggy’! And, yes, it does happen with my children; it’s a strange feeling, but so refreshing, like I’m seeing them for the first time. Calm and beautiful FOG! Your pumpkins are beautiful, by the way, and it makes me smile to see how much you love your growing things. Beautiful!
My repeating whine to Honey Bunny: the computer is telling me this but I did that and I don’t know what it’s talking about and I already tried… And on and on. I’m am tech- handicapped and he’s in IT. (Don’t tell him, but that’s why I married him;-))
Oh, I’m not only shaking my shoulders I’m workin’ the moves at 1:19…why wouldn’t ya?!! HA! LOVE IT!! xo
Garden pests. Hmmm….. Horned worms are mean. They hiss. Caterpillars give me the willies. I don’t like earwigs with their evil pinchers. Nor grasshoppers. Nasty. Any other pest, I can love. Even slugs.
Hmmmm if it helps a little bit those horn worms turn into the Giant Sphinx Moth if i remember right….might have to research that a little. Have you seen any around this year??
Oh, Maybe i have….? I have seen some large moths. Well, I
didnt kill anyone, I just relocated 🙂 But now I wish I had one of those
big moth/butterfly rooms, just for raising them. Thanks for the tip, must
look into this.
I call it a tomato worm. When you mentioned the size of your thumb, I had to gasp! That is a HUGE worm!!! Oh my… I would’ve ran away, too.
My ongoing request is for my husband to kill spiders. I can’t stand them! (except for daddy long legs – they don’t scare me)
I love all your pumpkins and garden and I don’t think you’re boring. Keep it coming. Have a wonderful evening! 🙂
Carmen
Ok this is precisely why I don’t garden…. The bugs! I could never get used to them. Had you awakened me with that thing….well you can imagine my reaction. I so applaud your ability to handle all the “creatures” as you make things bloom.
I am so ready for true Autumn!
XOXO
Lisa
I have those swallowtails too! I mean the first caterpillar I found on my orange tree I got all protective and raised him in a jar until he turned into a butterfly and flew away. His name was Lewis and you can see him on my blog. But now I find a whole new crop of caterpillars on the tree every couple of weeks and the butterflies are always flying around it, so I figure they can take care of themselves. They love orange trees! Luckily my caterpillars just chow down on the new growth coming out from lower down on the tree, which doesn’t really need to be there anyway. I just leave them to their own devices and they do great.
I am such a sucker for all creatures. Even bugs I find it hard to kill. One time I had to kill a black widow on our patio because I didn’t want to risk it biting our animals, and I cried and had bad dreams about it. I know I am over sensitive, but I just can’t help it!
ps. your pumpkins are the best!
Alia, they stripped one of my orange trees, those swallowtail buggers. The
whole tree. And now they are working on my giant 30 year rose bush.
They also stripped all my passion fruitvines, and my new lemon tree.
Its crazy. This is the time for all that new growth to help the trees
flourish – so I am sort of freaking 🙂 To say the least. But I am
like you, I cant kill anything, I just relocate it and hope for the
bestest. You are such a kind hearted soul!! Oh, I love your
Lewis!!! Were you sad when he flew off?
You are so doggone funny Vanessa! I grew up with those huge green horned caterpillars too! They used to eat up our tomato plants. I think my older brother told me the horn of the caterpillar was poisonous! I believed every thing he told me…gullible me. Oh, but your pumpkins are glorious again this year. Oh, when I want something, I usually send my hubby the link and say ‘I want this, please’. Most of the time that works. Whining does not work with him. But I did try something different I learned from my daughter. Okay, my hubby and I were in an antique mall and I saw some old purple glass bottles…which are similar as to what I bought at the Rose Bowl Flea market in January. Well…I was walking around the antique mall with them in my hand and said ‘Can you please buy these for me?’ No answer. I said, they are only $3.00 each (and worth $20 to $40 dollars in some chic areas) No answer from him. So, I went back and put them back where I found them. And returned to him and said, ‘You didn’t answer me, so I put them back.’ He then said to me ‘Oh, I’ll buy them for you.’ So, hee, hee, it worked! A pity party of sorts and he gave in. They are really cool bottles and they go very nicely with my aqua colored ones I found in So. Pasadena at the Rose Bowl Flea market which is the second Sunday of every month unless of course there is a football game going on inside of the bowl.
Ta! Ta!
XOXO
Miss Teresa
You are the hardest working blogger I know! Finding the time to paint, decorate, garden and cook…..you just blow me away with all the magic that is you!!
For all your diligence tending your garden, I bet your yard is Eden to all creatures….including the bugs. Sorry they are eating up all your hard work 🙁
Vanessa, I just shiver when it comes to insects and spiders and such. (Mice, snakes, lizards, etc . . . no problem! I can deal with them. Bugs . . . not so much!)
I can’t kill them, and I am happy to see spiders in the garden because I know they help with the pests, but still . . . 🙂 I give wide berth to them!
Those horn worms really give me the creeps, but, they turn into what we used to call hummingbird moths, which I believe are a type of sphinx month. Every time I see one of those moths, I am reminded of my grandmother’s petunias. The hummingbird moths would be thick in there feeding on their nectar. At first glance, you think they are hummingbirds. That is the ONLY redeeming quality of those big green yucky things as far as I am concerned! 😉
It is heartbreaking to watch your little plant babies getting gobbled up like that! My grapefruit and orange trees have been completely stripped of their leaves. So far, my lemon trees have managed to escape that fate (fingers crossed all turns out well!). I hope yours recover! ! !
We have giant caterpillars that turn into hummingbird moths ( sphinx moths) and they strip the tomato plants. They are so hard to see. You really have to look for them. I can’t bear to kill them… We just pull them off and move them somewhere else.
Postoje razne postove u postojanje istom, vjerujem da uzimanje postoji referenca može doživjeti je to mjesto ili Älanak stvarno informativan. PraktiÄni cilj izraz ovaj post je loÅ¡e kvalitete. Jednostavno sam može izreći Äinjenicu da podaci dati ovdje bio jedinstven, samo da bi ga stvarno viÅ¡e u blizini potpuna, podržavajući s bivÅ¡im informacije će dobiti stvarno dobar. ToÄke ste dotaknuo ovdje navedene su od vitalnog znaÄaja, stoga ću uoÄiti mnoge informacije ovdje graditi to zapravo super za potpuno newbie ovdje. Puno hvala za ove informacije. Zapravo pomoći!
Lots of butterflies here too…I wonder…why now. It is the last week end of summer, there are more butterflies now that during hot hot summer. I have some snow-crop and the tiny teeny moths are flying around it along with the bees. I scream when I see bees…I guess I was stung too many times when I was a kid.
What a giant caterpillar !
Your pumpkins are awesome..so many shapes and sizes oh so many to choose from.
No, I can’t dance right now. We have guys out here putting a roof on the house and since my kitchen and dining room have no curtains who knows who might be walking by carrying a piece of roofing tin. But I did want to.
No, you aren’t the boring gardening lady. I love the pumpkins and am determined to grow some of my own next year.
I saw piece in one of the latest Stampington books. I am determined to make one of the dancing ladies this year.
Oh, and I am working on Halloween. I bought a couple cool new decorations.
Your pumpkins are wonderful, by the way, and it creates me grin to see how much you really like your increasing factors. Beautiful!
Haha… that’s so funny!
I like whine at my Farmboy just to push his buttons and get him riled up. It takes a lot of whining though, because it’s really hard to get him riled up, and then I just belly laugh which in turn makes him laugh. Just a big, goofy game.
Oh I soooo enjoy reading your blog. I look each and every day hoping for a new one to read, but…I now why I like you so much because you like the same kind of music I do! This song is one of my all time favorites, and yes, I move, move, move, and remember my glorious disco days! Thanks for including it, made my day! Have a great weekend!
Robin, I agree, that is what I did too. How can you kill something
like that? I just cant.
If I had a bug dangling in my face…I would have had a stroke! If I kill a critter in my house, I always feel bad…it doesn’t stop me; but I do feel bad 🙁 I try to make it quick so there is little to no suffering on their part.
You’ll have to ask my husband what my main whine is…because as far as I know, I don’t have one, and he can’t come to the computer right now 😉
Oh my gosh, Cheryl Lynn got me chair dancing this morning, for sure….how I loved disco music!
Thanks for the peek into your life…hope to be back soon!
Oh no! You must have a lot a lot of caterpillars then. I thought I have a lot, but they don’t even come close to eating all the new growth on my tree. I’m sorry! That must be hard especially since they turn into pretty butterflies and aren’t just some ugly bug that it is easier to care less about. I was a bit sad when Lewis flew away, but also happy because I had managed to raise him up to a butterfly!
You’re a busy, busy girl. Your pumpkins are beautiful.
What makes me whine? ANTS! I hate them, they bite me and are nasty on the plants. And we have so many of them because of the drought here. Your blog is inspiring and fun. Blessings, Diane
Alia, I would love to know how you kept him alive!!! Precious!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 9/14/2012 11:45:32 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Alisa, I do that too!! Its funny!! hahahaa!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 9/14/2012 12:59:03 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Hi Vanessa, Love the info on your fairy tale pumpkin! Ssooo glad you could rescue it! Love the name and it is quite pretty to look at!
I have had those same worms attack my trumpet vines in the past, BUT not this year! Things just didn’t grow as well this year. My sob story is that even some of my potted plants that seemed to be more tolerant are getting soggy roots and dying because I must have over watered once the monsoons brought some rainy days! No one ever said gardening was easy! It is a (deep rooted LOVE) for the outdoors and for growing whatever you fancy!
Keep up the good work and keeping it REALLLLL! AWESOME!!!! <3
PS I got my package, THANKS! ; )
Caterpillars are pretty easy, they just need fresh leaves to munch on. They don’t even need that much space. Growing up I was always finding and caring for various animals so we always had an assortment of terrariums and things. Now I don’t have anything like that. The biggest thing I had was a glass pitcher, so I put him in there with a couple of branches of leaves. I rubberbanded a paper towel over the top with a few holes poked in it.
Even though it was really hot I thought it was okay to keep him outside, but I just made sure it was in the shade all the time. I put a littl ebit of water in the bottom of the pitcher to keep the leaves fresh and keep him moist.
Basically just change out the leaves when they start to look wilty and old and rinse out the container when it starts to look messy at the bottom. Caterpillars can be poisoned by their own poos if they are in an enclosed space and you don’t clean it out.
Once they turn into a chrysalis you don’t have to do anything except keep an eye on them so you can let the butterfly go when it emerges! I know this seems like a lot all in writing, but it is really easy.
I think that caterpillar is kind of cute. I’ve not seen one like that before. I haven’t seen my favorite woolies yet. I adore seeing all your pumpkins! I purchased a few minis at our local orchard market last weekend. And I noticed a few fall colors on a tree across the street today! Yippee!
I’m still trying to catch up with my time away from blogland and am loving this post! I wanted to say that if you decide you have too many pumpkin seeds and wanted to send some this way (over here!) I’d love to have some! The basil seeds you sent me did great this year. I gave a start to my mum and hers grew huge – much better than mine did. She just loved it! I still have some basil seeds and plan to use them next spring and maybe try a small pot one in the house this winter (like starting it now). i’m babbly today..sorry!
love & blessings
~*~