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| Claire in the 4-o-clocks |
Our porch is surrounded by hundreds of bright pink 4-O-Clocks, and dozens of white Angel's
Trumpets, or Moonflowers.
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| Angel's Trumpet that we pressed in 2008 |
The 4-o-clocks are perennial. They have an enormous tap root that looks similar to a giant sweet potato. They poke out of the ground in April, and usually begin blooming around the first of June. I have to say that 6-o-clocks would be a more fitting name.
Angel's Trumpet, known around here as Jimson Weed, and perhaps known elsewhere as Moonflower, is in the Nightshade family. Unfortunately, it has been misused by young people around here for its hallucinogenic properties. It is very toxic and can be fatal if ingested in large enough quantities.
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| A Dragonfly gets an early evening meal as the 4-o-clocks begin opening. |
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| Tomato Horn Worm Study Qs from HONS In Spring and early summer, dozens of Tomato Horn Worms can be found munching the leaves of these two plants. We discover them by finding the droppings first, then looking under the half eaten leaves. Since we have so many plants, we have no need to eliminate the caterpillars. We have caught and raised a few. They continue to eat and eat and eat. Then, they must have soil, (a bowl full works). They burrow down and turn into a pupa which looks like a little brown water jug with a handle. The handle is actually where the very long tongue develops. |
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| Preserved Sphinx Moth |
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| Sphinx Moth Attack! When metamorphosis is complete, a large Hummingbird or Sphinx Moth emerges with an enormously long, coiled tongue which looks like a slinky. We usually begin to see these moths in late July in the evenings licking up the nectar. The ones that are drinking from the Angel's Trumpets are very easy to catch. My daughter just claps her hand over the cup of the trumpet when the moth is inside. The one in the picture was one which we found dead. It has preserved better than I anticipated in the ziplock bag. The moths will find a mate and lay their eggs. Baby tomato horn worms will hatch, and eat, and eat, and eat, and dig underground, form into their little water pitchers, and wait until next summer to emerge. Since we see so many Tomato Horn Worms in the Spring, I must assume that some eggs lay dormant over the winter? |
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| Claire Holding Sphinx Moths |
