My “Pot-luck” Patch

[fowltemptress]

I found this big fella on my Cape Gooseberry plants. It been about 7-8 cm (about 3 inches) in length at the time? I have not looked up what it is yet, and I did not have the heart to destroy such a beautiful creature, so I let it have the gooseberry plants.

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Below is a picture of what the Cape Gooseberry plants looked like 10 days later, with the caterpillar nowhere in sight. I hope it found a safe place to metamorphosis. At least the plants are showing promising new leaf shoots.

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Ooh, he's gorgeous. And big! I love you for not killing him. He reminds me of the tobacco hornworms I get on my tomato plants every year. This year I'm going to try planting a tomato patch outside of my garden so I can carry any worms I find over to the "sacrificial patch." It's crazy how much catterpillars can eat!

 

[Gill-b]

reminds me of the tobacco hornworms

I looked it up and I see what you mean. I like the caterpillars' tail, and it is a beautiful looking moth.

 

[Gill-b]

Autumn is here and my Pot-luck Patch is looking grim at the moment except for the grapevine, and bunch of new growing plants that might be potatoes? I have not payed them much attention. If you can identify them from the photograph, then please let me know what they are:

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The white arrow on the left in the above picture is pointing to the grapevine. As soon as it drops its leaves for autumn, I will plant this grapevine out to a new location in my garden.