Jack is a complete science fiend. During quiet times, he devours- at least the pictures- of such books as
Keeping a Nature Journal,
Science Play,
What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew?... Science Play is filled with all number of-- well, science-y experiments and activities for young kids, and one day, he came across one he's been set on doing ever since-- constructing a bug hotel. For a few days, we've been setting aside bits of sweet compost (a mango pit, some strawberry culls, an apple core or two...) that small critters might enjoy- into the bottom half of a 2-liter bottle. He was very upset with me one day for pitching a mostly eaten and browning apple core because he was "saving that for [his] bug hotel!!"
Yesterday, with the help of Mike, Jack dug out a small hole in our shamefully overgrown garden in which to place the "hotel." He came in to get me almost right away, informing me ecstatically that his first creepy-crawly guest had arrived and was contentedly munching on some mango. I wish I could have captured his glee throughout the whole ordeal. Mike found a board to put loosely over the container as a roof, and I'm sure we'll be checking on the number and kind of visitors present frequently. He has high hopes for a roly-poly(otherwise known as a woodlouse).
Last night, Jack was having some trouble sleeping, suffering from nightmares, and at least the
first time I was up there, he seemed calmed by a bedtime story about Oswald, a weary Roly-Poly who had chanced upon the hotel and was so excited that he went to retrieve his wife and two kids. They promptly packed up their suitcases and set off to their garden resort for a much-needed getaway.
...Makes me want to break into song...
...While the crickets click their cricky melodies
All the ants were fancy dancing with the fleas
Then up from under the ground
The worms came squirming around
Oh they danced until their legs were nearly lame
Every little crawling creature you could name
Everyone was glad
What a time they had
They were so happy they came.
Come on let's crawl (gotta crawl gotta crawl)
To the ugly bug ball (to the ball to the ball)
And a happy time we'll have there, one and all and the ugly bug ball!
1 comment:
As a seasoned woodlouse-herding veteran (in our pre-marriage days Rob and I used to spend days harvesting the little guys because my landlord would pay five cents a pop for them!), and I can tell you that they love to munch on potatoes!
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