Fluffy fuzzy woolly bear Caterpillar. When it eventually undergoes metamorphosis it turns into a Tiger Moth (one of the rare cases when the caterpillar is much prettier than the adult). 

Here it is, minding its own business, munching away happily on whatever it finds. I took a picture of it on a tomato chord, but tomato leaves and stems are toxic, so I don’t think they are on the menu.

When this little guy grows up it will overwinter in the garden, the second generation always does. 

One finds beauty where one last expects it if one looks closely enough. There is no other word to better describe it: this little fluffy critter is beautiful.

Folk wisdom says that the length of the reddish brown Band on the caterpillar predicts the length of the upcoming winter: the shorter the red band, the longer and harder the winter. Lots of rain also keeps the black bands longer. 

The caterpillar’s red band becomes wider as it matures, so it’s really early to tell just by looking at this one how the winter is going to be. Judging by the fact that the band is already wide enough, it will probably be mild, but then again, these are just folks tails.