Any Guesses?

My mother taught me when I was young to look closely. Really closely. I remember getting down on my hands and knees on a sidewalk to watch ants busy at work in a crack. I don't always trust my memory, but I think I remember her kneeling with me.

Now I'm looking closely with my own children. Above is this week's closeup.

Any guesses what it is?

They look like beautiful flowers to me.

The correct word for the picture above is frass.

And frass is a fancy word for . . .

Yes, you guessed it. Poop. Caterpillar Poop.

Meet the Tomato Hornworm, our newest pet.

The kids are smitten. Anika has already created a habitat for our friend. Hornworms need 3 inches of dirt. After eating for 3-4 months, they bury themselves in the dirt to begin metamorphosis. Some day our pet will transform into a huge moth.

If he survives through our children's curiosity. . . that is . . .