Part I: Chapter 2, The Strawberry-Pink Villa Summary and Analysis

The family settles in well in their small pink villa. The small garden is an oasis for Mrs. Durrell who spends her tending to it when she is not poring over recipes and cooking. The garden also serves as Gerald's first look into the insect-life of the island and the reader's first true insight to Gerald's love of entomology. As Gerald goes from an over-excited wonderment to scientific study, he describes the garden and its living things in such colorful detail. Gerald succeeds in giving one the feeling they are crouching alongside him on his garden journey watching the curious chameleon-like spiders and other insects. Gerald is especially fascinated with an earwig he finds burrowed in the soil. He watches as the insect lays her eggs and checks on her daily...