We're bringing WHAT home with us?

Earlier this year, Scott got a butterfly plant at a local nursery. Butterfly plants supposedly attract caterpillars who become monarch butterflies. We waited and waited (patiently of course); however, it seemed that our plant was broken, it didn't attract any caterpillars or butterflies.

Linda's butterfly plants attracted all sorts of caterpillars that would or have become butterflies. They decided we needed to transplant some of the caterpillars to our plant and maybe they would help us attract our own caterpillars.

Now, if you know me well, y0u know that I was less than enthused by transporting bugs anywhere. The initial plan had the bugs being transported home with us in a plastic container that would sit in the backseat with Karsten. I had visions of Karsten holding onto the container, shaking it and caterpillars going everywhere in the car. ICK!

When additional caterpillars were added to the container, we compromised on putting it in a plastic grocery bag and safely wedging it between two bags in the trunk. I'm pretty sure everyone thought I was over-reacting and there was no way they could escape from the plastic container.

When we got home, Scott pulled two caterpillars out of the container and searched under the leaves for the third one. In a soft voice he said, 'hmmm, where's the third one'. I frantically asked where the grocery bag was - we rushed over to find it and sure enough, there was one caterpillar crawling around in the bag. If we hadn't put them in a bag, he would have been crawling around in our car...ewwwww.

The escape artist

Scott showing Karsten the caterpillar hiding in the bag.

Scott watching to see if the caterpillars were making themselves at home.

So far we haven't seen any monarch butterflies and haven't seen any additional caterpillars - perhaps I'm not being patient enough. Stay tuned. :)