Tomato Plant Adventure

Tomato Hornworm

I found caterpillars in my vegetable garden today and asked this exact question:

What are Green caterpillar with white things on its back?

Answer: (from WikiAnswers)

"I can tell you it was either a tomato hornworm or a tobacco hornworm. Both are common in North America. Both get up to four inches long. And both like chomping tomato plants.

The tomato hornworm is the larva of the five-spotted hawk moth, Manduca quinquemaculata. It has eight curved white stripes on each side of its body and a straight black spike, or horn, on its bum.

The tobacco hornworm is the larva of the Carolina sphinx moth, Manduca sexta. It has seven diagonal white stripes, and its horn is curved and red.

Sometimes you'll see hornworms with little white things on them. The white things are wasp cocoons! Small, parasitic braconid wasps often lay their eggs on hornworms. The wasp larvae eat the hornworm's innards then form cocoons when they're done. Eventually they kill the hornworm. This is good for gardeners but not for the hornworm.
Hawk moths and sphinx moths are also called hummingbird moths. They're really good fliers. They hover while feeding on flowers. They look a lot like hummingbirds!

"

Happy Birthday to me!....I'm back!

Hello world! As with any new birthday, I am taking account of myself. I like what I see but I know I can do better. There is a thrill in the possibility that I can be more. God and my parents have given me good raw materials. Now it's my turn to move the clay around.

I am blessed with three good sons, a grandson, and his mommy, dear friends and family, and an exciting time to be alive.

Making a happy birthday...

My son, Alex's birthday...about ten years ago...

his brothers, Evan and Marion smile on...

On my birthday, there seems to be a dimensional shift... Those I love and want close are far off...physically...emotionally...or psychicly... Perhaps its me. Have I pushed them all away for a day? Am I taking ultimate stock of myself and then celebrating? Yes... My birthdays are always good! I know I am deeply loved. Even in the quietness of the heaven tree, I feel all the arms holding me and eyes looking on me with love.

Happy Birthday me....!

blooming with thoughts...about work and galleries...

Now that my office/studio room is reality, my thoughts move to higher possibilities...taking on students, opening a gallery/studio, painting, painting, painting....Priorties...Priorities...

I was exploring this morning, looking at the Paulina Frances on a Google search and as always paying close attention to my web hosting service, Fine Arts Studio , to see new artists and what they have created for their web pages. We can learn so much from each other. Today's jewel is the Mayr Gallery, so wonderful and worth a look...

Also, you may notice, I am getting the hang of html...proudly...it gives me a bigger voice and a chance to make it easier for my readers to find and explore what I'm talking about here.

Looking straight at me...

Tomorrow is my birthday. A few days ago, before the storms..my son, Evan, noticed this cicada trying to work her way out of her old skin. That is how I feel everyday. I am working my way out of this old skin and becoming a new entity... I am becoming the "real" me. The "should be" skin is peeling away to reveal my potential self...an actualized person. I feel indestructible and very powerful! I was happy to have a chance to experience this little insect's metamorphosis... I learned much about myself by watching her rebirth. She looked straight into my eyes as if she were wiser than I am...hmmm?

Thunderstorms are predicted the next several days...

It stormed all night, delicious sounds of rolling thunder like waves crashing on rocks. This morning under the heaven tree, there is a gentle mist falling as I sit here....barely noticeable but moisturizing.

My mind is far off, visiting a traveling friend.

I have already planned the day. I spent time with my sister, Rosie, last evening, reminiscing and working on my card idea. She likes to bead and has a cornucopia of beautiful seed beads, antique and imported. I brought her a small jeweler's box of antique seed beads, probably Victorian, that once were attached to a netted beaded collar. Their colors varied from plum to shiny black.

I brought with me a book of 18th Dynasty Egyptian wall paintings of Ahkenaton's time. I drew on little cards Egyptian figures inspired by the wall paintings. I love making these miniature paintings.

Under the "heaven tree" in the front yard (which is actually a weeping cherry), there are three lawn chairs and a table. I like to breakfast there in the very early morning. I am here now, sitting on one of those green chairs, coffee on one chair arm and tofu and vegetables on the other. In my lap are books to read and this journal, which I will transcribe into the blog sometime today.

All this to tell you about the cat bird. Cat birds are related to mockingbirds. They make a cat sound but they have the personality of a little monkey. Our cat bird likes to walk up the front walk, jump onto the front step, and skip gingerly to the front door as if to go in. She has done this many times.

When I sit under the tree, she flits all around my head, greeting me with a soft "chip-chip" sound. The cat is laying at my feet, so at first I thought the bird might be worried about some little ones.

My mother loved the birds and taught us the difference between bird calls, some alarming, some warning, some just happy chirps, and then the song. The song begins just before sunrise. It expresses various bird emotions. It can mourn a lost mate or nestlings. It can attract a mate. Mostly, I've noticed, it is sung with great joy to greet the new day.

I love watching the cat bird. I see her so often that I thought about giving her a name. She hangs onto the tiniest branches nearly upside-down, looking straight at me making her joyful chirping sound. 

raindrops and gazpacho... (click here)

It is a night of delicious sounds...distant train whistles and the steady pattering of rain...

Tomorrow brings a day of experimentation. I am off to the farmer's market (I will bring my camera...) to chose the freshest most beautiful ingedients for a special Spanish recipe that I am learning to make. It is called "Gazpacho" and is served chilled, so perfect for the blazing weather of the past few days. The recipe I will follow was given to me by a good friend who cooks very well.

(Ingredients:4 cups cold V8 or tomato juice1 small minced onion (Vadalia or red)2 cups freshly diced tomatoes1 cup minced green or Italian pepper1 tsp. honey or rice syrup1 large garlic clove minced1 diced cucumber4 scallions choppedJuice of 1/2 lemon Juice of 1 1/2 limes2 Tbsp. wine vinegar1 tsp. basil1 tsp. tarragon1/4 cup freshly chopped parsleyDash of ground cuminDash of tabasco sauce2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oilSalt and fresh ground pepper to taste(Can also add canned pineapple with juice) Combine all ingredients and chill for at least 2 hours.)

I'll be sure to report back on this...smiling...and perhaps there will even be comments...