Friends in the Garden

By Morgan Gravatt
3rd Grade, Stanislaus County
Gratton Elementary School - Sheila Amaral, Teacher
Illustrated by Central Catholic High School

Once upon a time there was a happy little third grader named Morgan. She loved math and the outdoors. One day after her math lesson, Morgan was leaving her classroom for recess and decided to go explore the school garden. As she walked into the garden area she saw little objects flying from plant to plant. As one flew by her face she followed it to a nearby plant. To her surprise, she found the objects to be her favorite insects, ladybugs. Morgan watched as the red ladybugs crawled from the leaves to the stems in search of their favorite food, aphids.

On a leaf way up high, Morgan spotted two ladybugs all alone. Suddenly, Morgan had a great idea. She searched the garden and found the perfect jar that even had tiny holes in the lid. She headed back to the leaf and caught the two ladybugs. She picked up five leaves, placed them in the jar and twisted the lid on tight.

As she held the jar up in the air, she said out loud, "I will name you Lucy and Lucky." Her great idea was making pets out of the ladybugs. Morgan ran back to her classroom to show and tell her class about her great adventure in the garden. As Morgan shared information about her new pets with the class everyone listened closely.

She then went on to tell the class a few facts about ladybugs such as: ladybugs love to eat aphids and they can live up to ten weeks. Also, there are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs in the world and they are a type of beetle. Ladybugs can range in size from 2-12 millimeters.

"Ladybugs have a four-stage process of development that produces an adult. It is called metamorphosis and starts with an egg, and then larva, next is pupa, and last is the adult stage. These ladybugs appear to be adults and are the common seven spotted variety."

The teacher asked Morgan, "What are your plans for the ladybugs now?"

Morgan replied, "Since I have named them I plan to keep them for pets."

The teacher raised her hand for a second question. This time she asked, "Morgan, if you were a ladybug where would you want to live?"

Morgan thought for a moment while she stared at her new pets. Then with a tear welling in her eye she said, "If I were a ladybug, I would want to live in the school garden because I would be able to eat aphids, fly freely, and be with my family."

The class and teacher watched as Morgan walked sadly towards the door.

As she exited she said, "Please excuse me for a few minutes. I will be right back." She walked slowly back out to the garden talking to her new friends all the way. When she reached the garden she sat down and opened the jar. She gently laid the jar on its side and watched the two ladybugs crawl out and onto a leaf.

She whispered to Lucky and Lucy, "I'll never forget you and I hope you don't forget me."

She then stood up and slowly began to walk from the garden, but after a couple of steps she had a ladybug land on her nose. Morgan stopped to stare cross-eyed at the ladybug. She looked closely and knew it was Lucy. Lucy seemed to wait for a few seconds, then flew away.

Morgan had a smile on her face as she walked back to her classroom, quietly taking her seat. She knew she had done the right thing! Her ladybugs would be happy and content in the school garden.