July 13, 2026
As I was sitting on the back step putting on my rubber boots, I looked over at the bucket brigade of peppers. What did I see, to my horror, a very large hornworm hanging out of a half eaten bell pepper. Noooo! The hornworms are on my peppers. Bruce was also appalled and looked for other hornworms while I ripped the hornworm from the half eaten pepper. Bruce found two other hornworms eating our pepper plants.
Off we went to do the normal tending to the garden.
I want to provide an update on the Florida Pearl Strawberry. Apparently last year, we were not letting them get ripe. Fully ripe, they are juicy, with a luscious, sweet strong strawberry flavor. They need to be mostly red and just a little bit soft for them to be fully ripe.
Thunderstorms rolled in. We decided not to go see the big firework show on the Tennessee River at McFarland Park in Florence, AL. Bruce wanted to see the show, but didn’t want to deal with the danger of a thunderstorm.
After a while, the thunderstorm continued on its way, leaving behind this rainbow.
We continued to discuss seeing the firework show.
As sunset arrived, we decided to go see the fireworks, as there was no longer a risk of thunderstorms.
I suggested watching the fireworks from the bluff that overlooks the Tennessee River. Bruce wanted to celebrate the 250th anniversary with others. I didn’t feel strongly either way. We drove to Florence, AL, parked at Walgreens and walked to McFarland Park with several others.
We sat on the beach, watching the fireworks and listening to snippets of songs celebrating the USA. I had no idea there were so many. The fireworks were launched from something in the middle of the river.
It was a a fun day, with many beautiful things, minus the hornworms.
Blackberry Homestead 
Argh on the hornworms…you must be an incredible gardener to have them enjoy your produce so much!
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That hornworm was particularly annoying, hanging out of the pepper it had half-eaten.
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Sounds like a marvelous celebration!
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It was! We had a great time.
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If only you’d checked the peppers on the third, your Independence Day would have been perfect! 🤩
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🐛🫑😢😆
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You can tell a whole garden story with just a few emojis!
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I tried! 😆
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Could have put them on the barbie like they do in rural Pennsylvania.
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The hornworms or the half eaten peppers? 😆
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You mean you don’t?
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Not I.
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Sounds like a good day – minus the hornworms! I enjoy fireworks. Fortunately, we walk a few blocks, and we can watch them in our neighborhood. This was a special 4th!
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It was a great day!
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After the massive hornworm infestation we will no doubt be regaled with stories about the proliferation of Sphinx moths this coming Fall.
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Who knows if I’ll spot the Sphinx moth.
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Sit outside at dusk and they look like hummingbirds coming to feed on any flowering plants nearby. Can’t miss ’em.
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Oh, I’ve seen them. They are really cool, too bad their young are so destructive.
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