I mentioned my hope of planting a tiny autumn garden a few weeks back. Between daily rainstorms and Marcia's very demanding freelance project, I haven't had lots of time or acceptable weather. But today I bribed the homebodies (Pearl and Carrie) with animal crackers and collected the necessary stuff at the neighborhood nursery. The girls decided that plant stores were more fun than they expected. They liked the garden sculptures shaped like puppies and blueish purple flowers. Carrie enjoyed pulling the red radio flier wagon and adding her own inspired choices to the shopping cart.
As we paid the cashier, he gave them each a praying mantis egg sac. He explained that when they hatch as many as 350 babies will emerge from each one. He gave them to us because they'd been there too long and were ready to pop.
We planted cucumbers and zucchini in one big pot, and basil, rosemary and thyme in the rectangular one. I'm still hoping to score some lettuces for the other big pot and a tomato to plant at my office which has a super sunny backyard.
You might recalled that Nana is a super helpful person. When she saw the praying mantis eggs in the cardboard carrier, she assumed that we'd forgotten them and brought them inside. After everyone was asleep I found them on the kitchen counter and felt very alarmed. I kept imagining the little green walking sticks everywhere--the toy airport, the coffee pot, the shoes and sandals, floors and ceilings. The imagination can be too much. I moved them to the porch that night and onto a tree the next morning.
So far (2.5 days later) the plants are doing well. I'm not sure about the insects but will continue to monitor their progress.
Baba, an urban gardener
I wish someone had given me a praying mantis egg sac when I was little, what a great thing to have.
Posted by: Tracey | 28 August 2008 at 04:16 AM