Wilson: Good morning, mates. Welcome. Will you take a look at that gigantic pink-spotted hawk moth. That’s a large but gentle sphinx moth, also known as the sweet potato hornworm. Those moths range in size from 9.5 to 12 cm (3.7 to 4.7 inches) and feature a grayish-brown body with wavy dark lines on the forewings with some pink bands on the sides of the abdomen and at the base of the hind wings, which are usually hidden when the moth is resting. We almost missed it on the trail pathway and Mum took me back to check it out closely on our way back home from our morning walk a few days ago. Sure, I wanted to taste him but you can imagine that didn’t exactly fly with Mum’s agenda. Sheesh, sometimes, she treats me like a toddler as if I’m going to put everything in my mouth. Oh wait, I probably would, given half a chance. My bad. Moving along.
The Mum: Yes, I have to watch you like a hawk so make sure you don’t eat critters and plants that aren’t good for you. You act like you’re starving all the time and I don’t want you eating something that’s not good for you.
Wilson: Oh Mum…you get so carried away sometimes. My soft tongue would have gently caressed that moth…initially.
The Mum: I’m sure he wouldn’t have enjoyed a bath from you. While the pink-spotted hornworm moths are not poisonous to dogs, there’s no reason for you to lick one to death.
Wilson: Sometimes you take all the joy out of life, Mum. I thought I’d pose at the butterfly mural in its honor. Mum didn’t quite get the angle lined up on the wings but I think I make a nice looking and colorful butterfly.
The Mum: Yeah, I misjudged photographing you but needed to quickly snap a photo before a bicyclist came around the corner. Didn’t want you to be startled.
Wilson: It’s ok, Mum. I’m mostly grateful you were once again closely hovering over me looking out for my best interests. You do know I’m pretty good with a sit-stay pose, right? Just a reminder for you. So can I share some good news here?’
The Mum: Of course. What would you like to share?
Wilson: Well as everyone knows, Colorado has been suffering from a severe drought and our neighborhood in particular has been repeatedly shortchanged by Mother Nature on the moisture front. We were able to measure the rain in inches instead of droplets. Well, Wednesday we received a lovely shower that last for over 30 minutes and likely received over three fourth’s of an inch. It was fantastic. We can still use more but that made for a lovely evening. Just check out how much water remained in one of the water retention ponds in the neighborhood the next morning. We sure hope that tree didn’t mind being in the standing water and hope it doesn’t negatively impact it.
The Mum: It was so welcomed, I kept think it was going to end and went out on the porch several times to check it out and was thrilled it lasted for a long time.
Wilson: Finally, we noticed a volunteer cherry tomato plant popped up in a planter box. We hadn’t given it much thought but I know you smiled when you first spotted it a couple of weeks ago. This week, you saw that it was flowering. Thinking it probably wouldn’t have enough time to produce any tomatoes, imagine our surprise when we found little baby tomatoes on it! With warm days and cool night, it just might make a couple tasty ‘maters before the first frost.
The Mum: It really did bring a smile to my face and was the last thing I expected in a planter that was planted with lettuce. The lettuce sprouted from seeds that were planted in the spring which was a good thing too with all the news about Cyclospora of bagged lettuce. While I wasn’t overly excited about that variety of leaf lettuce, the two volunteer tomato plants made me almost giddy. We’ll see what happens. But I’m always excited when volunteers sprout. Those little cherry tomatoes are always so tasty. Those seedlings came from a tomato plant from our old house last year so it just seemed like quite a miracle.
Wilson: Glad it brought you some joy, Mum. It’s not been an overly great year with our potted veggies but this kind of makes up for it.Well that’s it from us this week. We hope everyone has a terrific autumn weekend. Are the trees in your neighborhood turning yet. Things have been a bit slow here but Mum noticed they are slowly starting around our house. Enjoy the weekend!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
How wonderful you had rain! It is always fun to get volunteers. I hope you do get a few tomatoes. 🍅
Not sure where our comment went? Hope it showed up, it just disappeared after we hit comment.
Trees are starting to turn here a bit which is nice and the temps have been cool. We need more rain as well, but it is only coming in tiny amounts. As for eating on walks, you should walk with Henry. Suddenly he is putting everything in his mouth. Mom is constantly stopping and fishing things out. We have to really watch him so he doesn’t swallow anything really bad. Happy Friday!
Wilson, so happy to hear some decent rain arrived there. I know your area has been suffering a lot. We’ve been the exact opposite this year – the best summer for consistent rain and cooler temperatures I can recall in ages. Those purple butterfly wings look great on you. The baby cherry tomatoes are also a very welcome sight, and what a surprise based on the potted veggie season The Mum had. Have a great weekend!
Thank you, Bruce. Those volunteer tomato plants were such a pleasant surprise given that they germinated from last year’s tomato plant that was near that planter in our old garden across town. And with it being so ungodly hot this summer, they were a delightful curiosity. That pot is in a protected area so we’re hopeful they will ripen. Have a wonderful autumn weekend.
Didn’t know Colorado had a draught. I think my sis in Indiana would share some rain.
Truth of the matter is the state has been in drought conditions for the past 25 years, but this year has been especially pronounced. This morning, I heard a news story that Dillion Reservoir may only be half full next spring and it supplies a good deal of the metro areas’ water. Yikes! Thanks for the sharing thought. Have a great weekend, Jacqui.
Not too many signs of fall here yet but the temps were high until this week. Nights are cooling down! Yay! Waking up to 70+ degrees is not refreshing. We’ve had a lot of rain after a dry spring. Hopefully it evens out. Good luck to your tomatoes. Always a crap shoot this late in the season…but maybe…
It seems surprising just how slowly the leaves are changing this year. I know just what you mean about waking up to crisp temps. It’s been in the low to mid-50’s every morning and both Wilson and I are absolutely loving it. I’m hoping the protected spot will allow a couple of cherry tomatoes to ripen. There’s nothing better taste wise. Warm days and cool nights make tomato plants very happy here. We’re lucky that the altitude helps ripen them sooner than at sea level. Enjoy a terrific autumal weekend.
So glad for the water. I hope more is on the way for you! Very interesting moth.
Thanks, we’ve got our paws crossed. Those maths are ginormous which alone makes them very fascinating. Enjoy a wonderful weekend.
We are off to a Tater Festival tomorrow. Should be a riot. Tater catapult, mash potato sculpting contest, cowpie bingo. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog! Have a good weekend yourself.
How fun! Can’t wait to see that post. Have a wonderful time and enjoy a tater or two for us.
I’m so glad you guys got some much needed rain. We have a lot coming our way this weekend. I wish I could run a rain gutter from my blog to yours. I hope you get to see the volunteer tomatoes ripen before the frost sets in on them. Have a great weekend.
Thanks, Dan. To say we were thrilled with the amount of rain that fell would be an understatement. Thanks for the digital rain gutter-the thought made me smile. I’m hoping the protected area where that tomato pot is located will allow for a at least a couple of them ripening. I so love cherry tomatoes! Try to stay as dry as you can and have a great weekend.
Oh my! Thanks for the birthday greeting and I’m honored to be celebrating on “Dolly’s Day”……Nine-Two-Five…..love it!! I also love that photo of you dear Wilson with the butterfly wings although it looks more like elephant-sized lavender ears (tee hee). Isn’t it special you have two bonus tomato plants as a surprise in your garden. We hope you are able to enjoy RIPE tomatoes before we get frosty this Fall. Again – thanks so much for the birthday wishes – means the world to have wonderful sweet friends like you!!!!
Love, Pam (and Teddy too)
We’d celebrate you even if it was Dolly Parton Day but how cool is it that you’ll get to share the day with the likes of her. That purple butterfly wings is so intense-I’ve wanted to take a pic of it since we moved in late last year. We’re definitely got our paws crossed those baby tomatoes have enough time to ripen. The fact that last year’s seeds germinated blew me away. Have a wonderful birthday and fantabulous weekend.