I’m starting to gather seeds for Zone 10b garden season. In the fall we can grow some real vegetables.
Thanks for the new thread! It seems the year is really flying by.
My sweet corn was doing well until a corn-borer worm came to visit. Now the corn is gone, and all my bell peppers have holes (some large-ish) in the fruits. Caught a worm in the act and quickly sent it to its “reward”. Never had anything even remotely like it before, which coincidentally is the first year I’ve planted corn.
Now I’m seeing small holes chewed in my green beans, but they’re not from a corn-borer worm because I’ve seen a green, round or shield-shaped insect chewing away. It’s a little smaller than a child’s little fingernail. How do I kill these pests? Malathion is out, as I want to be able to eat what grows. Diatomaceous earth doesn’t seem to do the trick — or maybe I’m just impatient.
Would like to have a second planting (of green beans at least) but am not sure how to prevent a re-infestation. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Hello, August!
The butterflies in your flower arrangement remind me that I’ve been seeing lots of butterflies in my yard. I’m especially happy that at least one Monarch is visiting regularly, and hanging out by the milkweed patch that is growing more robust. I hope it’s laying eggs, and that in a few weeks time, I’ll see the caterpillars go into J formation to form the chrysalis.
There are two kinds of milkweed there, swamp and common. The common milkweed plants are transplants given to me by a friend who lives just a few blocks away. Those ones are tuberous, so will spread. They haven’t had blossoms yet this year (transplanted last year), but I hope they will next year. They are huge compared to my swamp milkweeds! I’m thinking of transplanting some of those next spring into the meditation garden area.
I’m considering putting in a butterfly bush over there, too. Yesterday I perused a garden center for ideas. I saw a beautiful raspberry colored crepe Myrtle bush that shouldn’t get more that 4’ high, but it was expensive. Still…a crepe Myrtle would be lovely to have as a late summer bloomer over there.
Today it feels like a Fall day, a little cool. The first time it happens in the season, it always catches me off guard, even if I know it’s been forecasted that way. Even though I’ve been in the Midwest longer than I had lived in the South, it still surprises me, and gets me a little down to know that summer is nearing its end. I may complain, but the truth is, I love the sun and the warmth. My comfort level goes well into the 90’s.
Anyway, hello August and FRiends! Time waits for no man.