WATERING DILEMMA

“Well, I guess I’ve got to go buy a new watering can.” I said as I held it up for my husband to see.

“Why? Is it leaking?” Steven was busy deadheading the geraniums and hadn’t turned to look.

“Nope. Guess again.”

Steven tossed the dead flowers in a bag and looked to where I was pointing.

There, on the top of the spout dangling off the sprinkler head, was a chrysalis of a monarch butterfly.

“Well, I guess we’ve found him now.” I sighed.

Steven and I had been watching our milkweed plants and one of the large caterpillars had been missing. We’d been looking to see where it had crawled off to, to spin itself into it chrysalis, ever since.

“Yup, it looks like that mystery is solved.” Steven laughed.

“I mean seriously…” I waved my hand around the porch. “It literally had the entire railing system!” I pointed back to my watering can. “And it picks this!”

Our son Alex came out on the porch. “Morning. What are you two up to today?”

I pointed to the chrysalis. “Can you believe this?”

Alex came over to get a closer look. “I saw him crawling around the porch yesterday afternoon.” He stepped back and took a sip of his coffee. “Interesting spot to pick.”

I took a closer look. “Do you think it’s okay?” I looked over at both of them and had to admit what I’d just done. “I’d already filled this in the sink and I’ve watered half the plants before I noticed him dangling off of it.” I couldn’t help but cringe. “They just got put on the endangered species list.”

Steven and Alex looked at one another before Alex, who was standing next to me, patted me on the shoulder. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“They live through storms.” Steven quickly added. “I’m sure being tipped a half a dozen times isn’t going to bother it.”

“Okay, well that makes me feel better.” I placed the watering can down on the porch. “But what am I supposed to use until the butterfly comes out?”

Steven pointed over to the hose on the side of our house. “What about using that?”

I crinkled my nose. “By the time you unravel it, drag it over to the porch and struggle with getting the kinks out of it it’s just easier to use a watering can.”

Alex went over to where I’d put the watering can and took a closer look. “Why don’t you unscrew the sprinkler part of it, put it in a safe place and just use the can?”

I went over to take a look and had to smile. “That’s a perfect solution!”

Steven came over to help. While I held the sprinkle head steady Steven began twisting the can until they were apart.

I held the white sprinkler head up and looked at the chrysalis. “Okay, now it’s time to find you a safe place to stay until you’re ready to become a butterfly!”

I went and got a small mesh butterfly cage and propped it up inside. “That should keep you safe until you’re ready to come out.” I zipped the top closed and placed it on the table.

I looked over at Steven and Alex. “Fingers crossed it’s going to be okay.” I held both hands up crossing my fingers.

Steven looked over the railing at our milkweed plants. “Just a heads up everyone. I see another fat caterpillar that’s going to be on the move soon.” Steven looked over at me and smiled. “Keep your eyes open!”

“No worries.” I sighed. “I’ve learned my lesson.”