So, we don’t quite have a farm like Texas North, but we chose to go a little different direction, more zoology and less ag. In addition to our perennially blooming orchid (now in its third year - go us!), Rory - and admittedly Dad and Mom - are fascinated with little animals that are “so cute and tiny.” Exhibit A is Kiwi, her pet turtle. While it was a little touch-and-go in the beginning, this expensive little red-eared slider has toughed it out with Team Badrina, and is turning into quite the pet. Dad especially is thrilled with its survival (did I mention it was expensive?) and loves cheering it on while it eats.
Kiwi, however, has competition now. There’s a little field here in Dallas that is ripe with milkweed and, thus, prime breeding ground for butterflies. Rory and friends cautiously stormed the field one afternoon and came out with milkweed, some with teensy-tiny little white dots on them.
One day, the dot disappeared and we all thought it was a goner. Chalked it up to a negligent Badrina Zoo/ learning opportunity. Then we saw this:
We were a little nervous because it was “so cute and tiny.” It ate a little, and four days later we thought we were doing pretty well in terms of feeding the little sucker.
Well, then it started doubling in size every two days. Little did we realize that it grows like CRAZY. I mean, its appetite is Dad Badrina, circa 1990. Three more days passed, and it was getting pretty hefty (and we got another little egg from the field).
Then, we went out of town for three days. When we returned, we came home to Fatty McFatty and his kid brother!
It’s hard to tell from the camera angle, but that caterpillar went from sitting on a leaf to being the length of the leaf. In three days! “It’s hu-normous, Daddy!”
Needless to say, Rory is totally enamored with process, and explains to anyone within earshot that in a couple of days, unless the caterpillars becomes the size of a dachshund, (deep breath) “it wiw make a chrysawis and then we get to keep it for TWO MORE WEEKS and then it come out of its cocoon and then it dries its wings wike this (insert pantomime), and then IT BECOMES A BUTTERFWY!” She conveniently forgets the part where we let it go into the wild, but in truth, I’m more worried about Kiwi’s jealous streak - it may last long past the flight of the butterflies.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:17 am
You grew a CATERPILLAR??? I am so totally impressed.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:29 am
The large one seems to want to escape today, so I would tamp down the excitement and pray for some cocoon action right about now.