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| The garden 9 June 2012 |
Looks nice, doesn't it? All green and tasty, with the kale in the second row from the bottom looking ready to be harvested. In the foreground is a brussels sprout plant, with two more on the right-hand side of the kale. Well, guess what I discovered yesterday as I was out watering the plants? ANOTHER garden pest: aphids! The brussels sprouts and cabbage are all infested with them. Since we want to keep this garden as organic as possible, I went online to discover what to do next. My other plants did not seem to be affected at all, and the three squash plants are getting big enough that they don't seem to be as bothered by the slugs.
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| My first cherry tomatoes, 10 June 2012 |
Right now I'm only concerned about getting the aphids under control. I went out last night and cut off the worst infestations and sprayed the rest with a mixture of water, vegetable oil and a few drops of dish soap, as suggested on line. I went out there to check this morning and was encouraged. I will stay vigilant and hopefully get them under control. A few ladybugs were making their rounds, and I discovered that they eat aphids. Come one, come all; have a tasty treat on me! Discovering the aphids made me so upset that when I went to bed last night I couldn't sleep, thinking of waging a battle for my cruciferous veggies. At least, as Smart Guy said, they have good taste.
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| Christy, Dave, Linny, Cindy, me |
Our summer has come out in full force. I drove down to Snohomish on Sunday and made three wonderful skydives with my friends. The air was smooth on the ride up, the skydives were fun, and my landings were all good. I had walked into the Drop Zone office at one point and just caught the tail end of a conversation. A young man said, "See, there she is!" He looked a bit shamefaced and admitted that he was surprised to see someone my age out there jumping and saw me as an inspiration. I was actually pleased and hope I let him know that. I was a little the worse for wear yesterday, though, with a bit of residual tiredness. But hey, I'm almost seventy!
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| Abigail Alfano in Pine, Louisiana |
Finally, I'd like to share a picture sent to me in an email, showing a flurry of activity around Abigail's hand. She was filling her hummingbird feeder, and they had grown so accustomed to her presence that they didn't even wait for her to put the sugar water back into the feeder before taking a sip. Her husband caught this picture, which just simply makes me smile. She said they are so light and airy when they land that she barely feels it. Isn't it marvelous?
Well, this post went all over the place. Thinking of a title was the hardest part, going from garden lice to skydives to hummingbird heaven. I think the garden is a bit worse for wear (but I'm working on it), I am too, a little tired from not sleeping well and making three skydives, but the hummingbirds: they look like they are raring to go!
:-)
well, all i could title it would be "parasites, parachutes and practically paranormal" :)
ReplyDeleteOh, my! You're "waging a battle for my cruciferous veggies." The words alone are impressive. Aphids, not at all.
ReplyDeleteI still don't understand why anyone would jump out of a perfectly good airplane. But since you enjoy it, and have now become an inspiration to someone else — keep doing it as long as it is fun.
And, yes, the hummingbirds are lovely. We had them at our home, and the one or two that came were always a delight. As Abigail has learned. So wonderful that they trust her.
I thought they all dovetailed rather nicely, but then, I'm usually all over the place and think it's okay. :) Hummingbirds and skydiving seem a natural. And gardens fit everywhere. What a wonderful thing, to have the hummingbirds eating out of your hand, or the sweet stuff in your hand. Amazing little beings.
ReplyDeleteI could comment all day on this post! I will make only one comment. If you consumed as much sugar as the hummingbirds you would have unbelievable energy!
ReplyDeleteI always love to look at hummingbirds. They so fascinating. If your picture is any indication you look darn good skydiving at 70. About those nasty garden critters. Gives us pause for thought to think about our parents and grandparents growing the food they had to eat for the winter while fighting off garden critters. Must have been discouraging at times.
ReplyDeleteI'd heard of planting garlic on the corners or perimeters around those kind of crops to keep evil bugs away.
ReplyDeleteDid 14 jumps in my younger days. Cool to see you still jumping.
DrumMajor (from over by Gigi and Musings blogs.)
Your garden does look good, DJan, hope the ladybugs conquer the aphids for you!
ReplyDeleteomg that humming bird pic is just amazing...i have never seen them fed out of hand before...ugh on the lady bugs...we get those something fierce...and just smiling at your jumps....so cool.
ReplyDeleteYou should be able to buy ladybugs at an organic garden center. Release them right at sunset - they feed more at night, they will hang around your garden as long as they have a food source then will move on - the can eat an enormous amount of aphids!
ReplyDeleteAphids suck literally. I hate them. I used to have indicator plants that would help me find an early infestation. They will eat your new growth..check your pepper plants real good...they can also be under the leaves..You don't have too many plants..I would squish what I could and then spray all the plants with a good hard spray of water.OR your solution should work too..it will be ok:)
ReplyDeleteGarden pests are the bane of our existence. There is always something. It's because of aphids and little green worms that we don't even try to grow cruciferous vegetables. It's not hard to figure out why pesticides are used by commercial growers.
ReplyDeleteWe now have some kind of a fungus on one of my favorite garden ornamentals, Heucheras. We have an extensive collection of them and one by one they are getting ugly leaf galls the eventually just eat up the leaves. It is very difficult to control and spray is only partially effective.
Our native dogwoods are still defoliating, as they do evey spring/summer due to a fungus that is slowing wiping out native dogwoods everywhere.
And yet we harvested raspberries, strawberries, snap peas and zucchini this morning. You win some, you lose some.
You can buy ladybugs online. We got some one year for our roses.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! You are doing battle with the garden pests, being inspirational in the air, and spreading hummingbird joy!! I just love it! :):)
ReplyDeleteI have battled aphids on my roses and the little ladybugs are my best friends. Someone else has already mentioned it but you might think about buying more of these little aphid eating wonders. Another aphids hungry creature is the green lacewing larvae.
ReplyDeleteYou are inspiring to us and now this young man. Way to go DJan!
Love those hummers!
The garden is looking great despite the battles being waged there. You also have my complete admiration for skydiving no matter what your age. WTG, DJan!
ReplyDeleteIt is 11 pm in Hawaii and I am rather tired, too. Baked a spice cake and now must wash the dishes and then head to bed. Ciao.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the organic gardening about which I know very little. I don't garden now, but I would have little patience with pests. I would give in to the impulse to spray Raid, or something equally non-organic. Great hummer picture. I would love to hand feed them, but I haven't tried very hard to accomplish that experience.
ReplyDeleteI am totally amazed at the hummingbirds. I've heard about people who do this, but to actually see it with my own eyes...it's still quite unbelievable...but awesome.
ReplyDeleteAs for aphids, I was going to type just get you a spray bottle and make a mixture of dish soap liquid with water [make it quite strong in ratio] and spray those aphids away.
But, I read you're doing that. It should be done daily for a while...then, when they begin to disappear, about once or twice a week.
ps....like TexWisGirl's comment as I sign out...
ReplyDeleteMy third hummingbird synchronicity in about 24 hours. What a wonderful photo of the birds. And hey, keep jumping! I love reading about your adventures.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the hummingbirds is fabulous. Just imagine!
ReplyDeleteI was going to recommend Ladybugys, but I see you've already heard about them! I hope you manage to rescue some of your veggies!
ReplyDeleteAnd you ARE an insipiration, still climbing mountains and jumping out of airplanes! :o)
Your garden is looking wonderful. I'm glad you found out about the ladybirds. Now what you need to do is encourage them to tell all their friends to come and share in the feast!
ReplyDeleteThe humming bird pictures is fantastic. I could wish that just once in my life, I could do that. I've only seen a humming bird once in my life and that of course was in Tennessee with Larry a few years ago. Every year we put the feeders out for them, but somehow I also seem to be back in England before they arrive.
Hang in there with the garden, DJan. I hope you have your aphids under control soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm always fascinated with your diving stories but this time I can't take my eyes off of those darling hummers. What a treat. Abigail was most certainly gifted by these little darlings.
Those darn aphids. I get upset with them also. I find the soapy water thing works pretty well. Also, the ladybugs are great for getting rid of these things. You are such a nurturer that you think about those baby plants when you need to sleep. It is a good thing you aren't a corn farmer in this drought.
ReplyDeleteYou, my dear, do not look anywhere near 70!
Dear DJan, I like to read bits and snippets from a person's daily life. They round out the whole. So thank you for sharing the aphid infestation--is that too strong a word--and the skydiving compliment and the hummingbird photograph. Those birds are beauty in motion.
ReplyDeletePeace to you in your daily-ness.
First of all, I'm so glad that you had a good day on Sunday as you were jumping. (I'm on vacation and haven't had a chance to catch up on my friends' blogs, and I apologize for getting here late)...but I am glad that you had fun and safe jumps.
ReplyDeleteNext, there is NO way you look almost 70. Amazing genes you have!
Finally, regarding the garden pests...sometimes one needs to resort to pesticides! :)) I'll be John Brown if I'd let those pests have the fruits of my labor. I use Sevin dust on my crape mrytle aphids. Organic is good...I go that route when I can....but this is "Garden War", girl !!! :)))
Love your blog, my friend.
Take care of you.
Hugs,
J.
Mother Nature won in my yard this year. With the extreme heat it seems bugs are out in full force. Good call on the soapy spray. Most of my perennial garden looks as if it's more like the end of August. Sure has been challenging. The flowers are so tiny on the plants that did flower. Sure makes me glad i decided not to do veggies this year. Glad to hear you had a chance to do some more skydiving. You're not only an inspiration to others at Snohomish...but to me as well. Smart guy's right...your bugs have good taste!!
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun post to read, DJan, very interesting! I can see you being an inspiration for that younger man! I have mentioned before that we have a 91 year old woman who comes to water aerobics 3-5 days a week! She is my inspiration!
ReplyDeleteAphids are the bane of a gardeners existence! We have purchased ladybugs, but often use the water and dish soap remedy. I've used that on roses, too. I'm thinking I better get out there and check for them, as I hadn't noticed any yet.
Love the tame hummingbirds! I have a couple Rufus ones that visit, but haven't seen any of the little ones lately.
Look forward to hearing about the Thursday hike later!
I think your garden looks quite regardless of bug ware. I am so impressed with the hummingbirds . We have some hummingbirds round and about the garden because of the variety of flowers. Butterflys n hummingbirds - simply a delight to watch. I get the biggest kick outta young kids that realize I am OLDER than their Mothers an bike and walk and rollerblade, n walk, and bicycle and walk again. Yah, they seem to think I am a lot younger. I usually hear " Hope I'm doing all that when I reach your age" :) ? ha,ha
ReplyDeleteWay to go DJan - have a good night
Yes, a little dish soap with water usually works. The ants farm the aphids, so you also have to take care of the ants. :)
ReplyDeleteThree sky dives? You're my idol, DJan!
ReplyDelete