A SURPRISE VISITOR

I like to try and have fresh flowers in my classroom,

from my or our school gardens,

 flowers the kids bring me (cuz they know I love them)

or maybe ones I buy for myself, 

just because   :)

I dry them out to be recycled in our eco-dye units,

or as added embellishments for class assignments.

Well two days before school started 

I went to our school's rose garden to see what I could find.

I cut several roses and put them into a bucket of water to take them back to my classroom.

Unbeknownst to me,

I had a passenger along for the ride.

This ginormous Praying Mathis.

I couldn't believe I hadn't seen him,

and that he could easily have crawled right onto me.

But there he was,

ready for class to begin.

I know how wonderful they are for your garden,

so I was determined to get him to one ASAP.

No class today young man.

I took that bucket that the roses were in and a piece of paper

 and sort of scooped him in.

Then placed the paper over top until I could rush him out.

It took me three tries because he jumped out twice.

And I didn't want to hurt him.

But he wasn't scared,

more curious.

I took him to the Succulent Garden next to my classroom 

and he hopped right onto a Jade Plant.

Home Sweet Home.

Phew Shuuuu.

Talk about a close call!