This is a one-month later continuation of Main Garden. Click to see a larger image. The picture shows how my garden looks today. Last night I tilled, weeded, and raked the garden.
The bush shown in the foreground of the garden is a rhododendron that I have had a few years. For now, it is in the garden and eventually I will move it to its permanent home once I figure out where that might be. It blooms during May. I took a picture this year because I always forget exactly what shade of pink that it is. The camera certainly made the flowers look bright.
Everything is growing in the garden. The tomatoes are about 18 inches tall and so are the sunflowers that have not been moved. Soon I will have to set up the tomato cages. Our cages are made from concrete reinforcing wire and they are around 18 inches in diameter, 5 feet tall, and very durable. My husband made them 15-16 years ago.
That is all for now. I will leave you with this image of a loosely patched cocoon. It’s the green caterpillar’s cocoon. How else was I going to check its pulse?
Okay, so I am a little impatient sometimes. I am happy to report that the pupa is still alive. When it is ready to emerge, it should have no trouble leaving its patched cocoon.
It’s been moved from the plastic box to a smaller container. It sits in my kitchen window and I check it often. ๐
Donna Young
Samantha says
Wow your garden looks better then ours right now. We got too much rain and not enough time to finish ours up. Oh well hopefully a fall garden. Hope your doing well Donna.
Sam
Tanya says
Donna, your dirt is so light brown. Is that normal for your area?
I like your garden.
Donna Young says
Tanya, the color in the picture is off; it is too yellow. The garden surface is dry and it is lighter when it is dry.
Hi Sam, it’s good to hear from you.
Barbra-Sue says
Donna, what did you tie your pupa up with? I just laid ours on a leaf and it hatched no problem….I was just curious…
Donna Young says
The pupa is held closed with thin strips of paper. I glued a cotton thread to the cocoon to hang it in the box. Originally it was attached to a pine needle, but that fell off.
I considered putting something in the bottom of the box, laying the pupa on that, and providing it with a few sticks to climb. Since you had success with yours, I might do that. I’ve been a little concerned that it might fall out of the cocoon and there is nothing soft for it to land on.
Sheri says
I have a rhododendron in my jungle and I can’t say that I’ve ever seen it bloom. It resides next to an out of control clematis (who’s days are numbered). Yours is a lovely shade of pink!
Where does one check for a caterpillar’s pulse? ๐
Donna Young says
Sheri asked “Where does one check for a caterpillarโs pulse?”
The pupa wriggles when it is picked up. :p I handled it as little as possible. Seeing the headless, legless thing wriggle was almost too much. ๐ฎ It reminded me of a Sci-Fi ‘B’ movie.
Sheri says
๐ I’m almost sorry I asked! ๐
Elaine says
Garden is looking great.
I look forward to seeing what comes out of the cocoon.
Tressa says
I love the rhodie. That is a pretty shade. It is gorgeous around here when they start blooming. Did you know that in Washington it is illegal to dig up wild Rhodies? Well, I am getting that 3rd party. But, it sounds good. ๐
Donna Young says
I didn’t know that, but that makes sense. ๐ I also didn’t know they grew wild in Washington. I will have to look around the net for images of the native rhododendrons, it sounds beautiful.
This website is my favorite place for looking up plant info and they have protected plants lists too.
http://plants.usda.gov/