Yesterday after making lunch, I noticed a worm on the countertop where the broccoli had been. Discovering a caterpillar crawling on my cruciferous vegetables could be disturbing.
But I chose to see it as another opportunity for education – and probably proof of the brocooli’s organic label.
So I gave the worm to the girls. We put it in a baby food jar with a bit of moist broccoli. I didn’t have a good lid to use, and it kept crawling out of the jar and onto the countertop. But we were able to identify it as an imported cabbage worm larva. These pests are the primary reason why I stopped growing broccoli or cabbage crops in our garden – they infest and eat the plants, reproducing into white butterflies.
Abigail had already attached herself to the creature so I had mercy on it and her. I told her that in the afternoon we would release it back outside. For a quick temporary cover I placed her sticker book on top of the jar – but when we looked again, the worm had escaped. I found it later that night on the side of the island in our kitchen and I put it back in the jar, taking the time to make a waxed paper lid secured with a rubber band.
This morning though the caterpillar wasn’t moving. The girls took it outside and put it in the grass. I’m sure it will make a bird happy.
Abigail and Michaela were sad. But Michaela comforted her sister with these words
Mommy can always find another worm in the broccoli.
6 responses so far ↓
1 medmusings // Aug 27, 2004 at 10:58 am
Pre-Bloggercon III BYO luncheon Friday 11/5/04
By attending the first Bloggercon in Boston last october, I had the chance to befriend many bloggers which was even more of a blast in person than the fun it is to read their blogs. This November 6th, Bloggercon III comes to Palo Alto to the Stanford L…
2 medmusings // Aug 27, 2004 at 2:30 pm
Pre-Bloggercon III BYO luncheon Friday 11/5/04
By attending the first Bloggercon in Boston last october, I had the chance to befriend many bloggers which was even more of a blast in person than the fun it is to read their blogs. This November 6th, Bloggercon III comes to Palo Alto to the Stanford L…
3 medmusings // Aug 27, 2004 at 7:53 pm
visitors to date
quick thanks to the visitors so far: mom & dad and mama & papa (in-laws) for taking awesome care of natalie andy, sonia & roque for helping with nally as well yeung tai: twice a day meals, good advice for aidan diana linda, andrew, ethan: thanks for th…
4 medmusings // Aug 27, 2004 at 8:54 pm
visitors to date
quick thanks to the visitors so far: mom & dad and mama & papa (in-laws) for taking awesome care of natalie andy, sonia & roque for helping with nally as well yeung tai: twice a day meals, good advice for aidan diana linda, andrew, ethan: thanks for th…
5 medmusings // Aug 27, 2004 at 8:58 pm
visitors to date
quick thanks to the visitors so far: mom & dad and mama & papa (in-laws) for taking awesome care of natalie andy, sonia & roque for helping with nally as well yeung tai: twice a day meals, good advice for aidan diana linda, andrew, ethan: thanks for th…
6 Helen // Aug 29, 2004 at 12:32 pm
Ha ha. I love the comforting words spoken by your daughter. Kids are so cute.
Good for you for buying organic. I haven’t crossed that road yet, but I am glad it is becoming more popular.