Yeah, I know the title does not exactly fit the story but, if you really think about it, the worm is turning...or in this case, a caterpillar so maybe it does. I went to the vegetable section of the Small Gardens this morning to do a bit more clearing of the spent plants. As I went to pull a ragged tomato plant from the ground, something caught my eye. Oops. Can't pull that one! Right on the tip top of the tallest stalk was a tobacco horn worm. Yes, I do usually pull the worms off of the plants and get rid of them but, this time, it was different. The season is gone. There are no more tiny tomatoes on the plants so why not let the critter have its fill of the last few leaves? The worm can then change into a moth that will help pollinate plants. Yes, I know that this caterpillar will change to a moth that will then lay eggs and make more caterpillars....that eat my plants! Still, that "live and let live" motto started buzzing about the head. Go for it, caterpillar!
That said, the garden will have to wait a bit before being fully cleared and prepared for a fall planting. One caterpillar just changed the whole plan for the day. One caterpillar postponed a chore. One caterpillar will probably come back to haunt me by laying a billion eggs that will eat next year's tomato plants! One caterpillar...oh, well. It is what it is. Chow down in peace, little one.
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