Gardening......: ) - Page 2

No, I was saying is there a garden forum out there? (I don't know???) But it's nice to put them here where we can see. My bush is like a purple blueberry silver? If that makes sense? It was headed to the trash, I saved it. Transplanted it, just didn't have a permanent place for it last year and now have to figure that out this year. A place where Reiker can't lift his leg!

Most of the flowers I only know from the garden magazines. But it's going to happen this year.

Thanks, I'll definately look into it. Also, going to do some beekeeping and build some bat houses.

        Alboe2009...

  Yes, there are garden forums and plant/seed swapping forums...fun,fun,fun...: )

    Beekeeping and bats..not so fun IMO...: )

    But, I hope you enjoy it...: )

    The butterfly bush comes in a few really pretty purples...I have a lilac colored variety...

       

    

Alboe: Could it be Russian sage? Does it get spikey purple/blue flowers? Unless you live in the upper elevations it probably isn't blue berry bush.

I have white butterfly bushes, too. I dig up babies every year and give them away.

Bees and bats are good for your organic gardens.....

      Bee...You're a gardener too...Awesome...

     How funny...I was posting to your thread Spring at the same time you were posting here...: )

         Russian Sage is very fragrant too..

           .

    

Yippee...................I love gardening.

Ruger......Looking at your beautiful garden.....almost......makes me wish we lived in a greener state.

I spent all of last week pruning everything in sight and repairing the irrigation lines that had cracked over the winter.

My tip would be.........do not be afraid to prune.

I prune everything........sometime into shapes......Russian sage, butterfly bushes, roses, lady banks roses, chaste trees (vitex), fruit trees, and most other plants that have dead winter growth.

In return the plants explode with growth. It also helps stave off pests.

I have a question for you gardeners,......how do you keep the squash bugs away from your organic gardens?

You can use crop covers, but I never do, too damn lazy because you have to be sure to take them off for a time so the blossoms get pollinated. The best thing to do is be vigilent and if you see the coppery eggs on the undersides, destroy them. I am squeemish so I've come up with a few methods, you'll figure something out. Also, notice the frass at the base of the squash plant where the grub has entered. You can take a wire and actually poke around inside the stalk and kill the nasty thing. Safer Insecticidal soap can be used if you see the young greyish/black nymphs. Capture and drown any adults you find.

DO NOT mulch directly around your squash plants, keep weeded so they can't hide.

Plan B is to start new seedlings to be transplanted in the second part of the season. Destroy all old plants.

Hope this helps.

My other link does not appear to be working anymore....I'll try again...

 
Thanks B.
I've been doing all of that and still the little suckers manage to get to them...

I planted Marigolds around them one season and they seemed to help a little. Maybe I'll do that again and plant a later season crop as well.

I haven't been squeamish about sicking my hands down into my plants to get after a pest. However, last season I reached down into a tomato plant to remove a tomato worm and when I pulled my hand out there was a..... gigantic.....not exaggerating .... nasty looking....black and yellow...... spider..... sitting on my hand.

I'm usually not freaked out by spiders but I'm not a spider fan either.That thing sitting on my hand ....almost..... gave....me......... a...... heart..... attack..... right..... then. I had a spider fit complete with screeching, hand waving and dancing.

Needless to say I do not stick my hands down inside my plants anymore unless I can see around all of the leaves and stems.

clc29:   I know what you mean! I never knew I'd have to  become an entomologist to be an OG. I've become much better at dealing with them (bugs), though the worse.... are Mexican bean beetle larvae....creeps me out, things with fuzzy spikes shouldn't be that color yellow! 

That is why Plan "B" gets more attractive every year! LOL

I have lots of garden "horror" stories! LOL

I always plant a ton of marigolds, too. I believe marigolds (the yellow ones) deter the bad nematodes if mulched back in the soil at the end of the season. Never knew them to stop squash bugs, which are probably #2 enemy on my list. Mostly because they spread the dreaded powdery mildew!