If the plants have pesticides they'll probably be something systemic, and so won't wash off, but if you knock off as much of the soil in the pot as possible then the plant won't have access to any more that might have leached into that soil. Any new growth and the flowers should be fine. The whole plant should be fine after a few weeks, once any pesticides used have degraded. it's just a precaution you need to take if you have existing caterpillars and run out of milkweed. You'd probably need to be careful with pretty well all commercially grown plants - they might be deadly for caterpillars. I have been told that I should never use store bought parsley to feed my black swallowtail caterpillars - fortunately I've never run out of my own parsley, so it's never been something I needed to worry about :-) Wooly bears, if they're the black and brown banded sort, are the caterpillars of the Isabella moth. The yellow sorts with the black hairs are Tussock moth caterpillars. They overwinter as caterpillars, and pupate in the spring - the ones you saw had probbly just emerged form hibernation and were looking for a place to pupate. BP

I heard it was just going to be some rain and wind, well that is what they are saying so far, I don't quite believe it either. The weather has been a bit weird, too humid for this time of year, the animals are acting weird, the geese are in the harbor honking already, fawns still have their spots? I am prepared as i can be for whatever comes our way, lots of water, dishes are all washed, the cupboard is stocked with canned foods, batteries and wood in the basement. Brought in all of my garden ornaments just in case, don't want any of those cans flying through the air. I just have a feeling we are going to get hit with something, perhaps not Ophelia, but something. Batten down the hatches all. Here she blows. Valerie

Hi TJ I looked at the beak but it seems a lot shorter than that of the Dowitcher (a short-billed one at that!). I enlarged the pic a little -does this help? Thanks Shyamala

Thanks for the confirmation, TMFF! Appreciate your taking the time.