Tuesday, July 29, 2008
I Love The Internet!
I have never been the type to stay online for hours at a time; I never could find that much to do. I always wondered what people did when they stayed on for hours at a time; I don't play video games, and I don't do chat rooms, and when I check my e-mail, it doesn't take any time at all to delete all the commercials. (That's what I call all the junk mail and advertisements that usually is all the e-mail I get).
However..............
I have found the most wonderful web-site........well, actually, TWO of the most wonderful web-sites. Of course, you'd have to understand what makes me tick to be able to appreciate how excited I am to discover these sites. I have always gotten such a thrill out of pairing up the ONE thing that I know for sure that someone that I know is looking for; or finding the most perfect thing at a yard sale or the thrift store that is just the thing that I didn't know that I, (or someone else) was looking for; or finding a great way to save money, or some simple ( or obvious) tip that could make a task or hobby ever so much easier. I have quite a few books that have tons of home and garden tips, that I have the most fun reading. Problem is, I have read these books so many times, and tons of these tips are duplicated in most of them; also, sometimes I think that people duplicate a lot of these tips, and put a bunch of junk in there, just to fill up the book. So, I am constantly looking through new books, to find the perfect tip that is just the thing that I needed to either save money, or make live easier, or recycle something.
I was looking on Google the other day, and I came across the ThriftyFun web-site. Now, I don't have a clue as to why this web-site is called ThriftyFun, but, I think that this web-site was designed especially for me! I have never seen so many tips in one place in my life; and in every category imaginable. It is awesome! And another good thing about it is, you can bookmark a tip that you want to store, and it stores all of them in one place............recipes, garden, Christmas, living green, saving money, you name it. I have spent more time on this web-site than I ever have anywhere else, and another good thing about it is, you can look up anything you need an answer for, and if you can't find the answer, then you can post your question, and either a staff member or a helpful person like me will try to answer your question. So, I'm thinking that I started started a blog to be able to pass on garden tips and lessons of life, and there a source was the whole time. (Oh well, I've got a forum now, and if no one ever reads it but me, then at least I can vent once in a while. )
Oh! And the other web-site is for people to post things that they want to give away. It is a place where members can post things; everything is free, and you can advertise for something that you are looking for, ( that one special something that will complete your light bulb collection for instance). Whatever. You just type in freecycle.org, and put in your zip code, and it connects you with the area closest to you that has a group of members. You have to register with Yahoo!, (if you haven't already).
I'm telling you, these two sites are great! I just love the internet! Happy hunting.
However..............
I have found the most wonderful web-site........well, actually, TWO of the most wonderful web-sites. Of course, you'd have to understand what makes me tick to be able to appreciate how excited I am to discover these sites. I have always gotten such a thrill out of pairing up the ONE thing that I know for sure that someone that I know is looking for; or finding the most perfect thing at a yard sale or the thrift store that is just the thing that I didn't know that I, (or someone else) was looking for; or finding a great way to save money, or some simple ( or obvious) tip that could make a task or hobby ever so much easier. I have quite a few books that have tons of home and garden tips, that I have the most fun reading. Problem is, I have read these books so many times, and tons of these tips are duplicated in most of them; also, sometimes I think that people duplicate a lot of these tips, and put a bunch of junk in there, just to fill up the book. So, I am constantly looking through new books, to find the perfect tip that is just the thing that I needed to either save money, or make live easier, or recycle something.
I was looking on Google the other day, and I came across the ThriftyFun web-site. Now, I don't have a clue as to why this web-site is called ThriftyFun, but, I think that this web-site was designed especially for me! I have never seen so many tips in one place in my life; and in every category imaginable. It is awesome! And another good thing about it is, you can bookmark a tip that you want to store, and it stores all of them in one place............recipes, garden, Christmas, living green, saving money, you name it. I have spent more time on this web-site than I ever have anywhere else, and another good thing about it is, you can look up anything you need an answer for, and if you can't find the answer, then you can post your question, and either a staff member or a helpful person like me will try to answer your question. So, I'm thinking that I started started a blog to be able to pass on garden tips and lessons of life, and there a source was the whole time. (Oh well, I've got a forum now, and if no one ever reads it but me, then at least I can vent once in a while. )
Oh! And the other web-site is for people to post things that they want to give away. It is a place where members can post things; everything is free, and you can advertise for something that you are looking for, ( that one special something that will complete your light bulb collection for instance). Whatever. You just type in freecycle.org, and put in your zip code, and it connects you with the area closest to you that has a group of members. You have to register with Yahoo!, (if you haven't already).
I'm telling you, these two sites are great! I just love the internet! Happy hunting.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Kids Are Great!
When you are having a really bad day, find yourself a grandchild. Borrow one if you have to, but it is imperative to your well-being (and theirs) , to be able to connect. The reason that you want to go to any lengths to connect with a grandchild is...............grandchildren love unconditionally. You know how parents love their children unconditionally? Well, grandchildren are like that. They don't care if you are not perfect, they love you as you are. They give themselves whole-heartedly, loving without abandon, and they have just as much fun loving you as you do loving them! I think that's why God made kids; because He knew that we needed them so much. When I am really down, I can love on a grandchild, and it does wonders for my soul, and they seem to like it as well.
Another great thing to do with a grandchild, is to take them swimming. That's a blast! They love it when you sneak up on them in the water, and act like you are going to dunk them, and when they get their water guns out and squirt you, then you have to chase them all over the pool, (and you have to take a really long time to catch them, because the longer it takes to catch them, the more fun you have), and then when you catch them, you have to dunk them, ( but you give them a chance to hold their nose before you do). They really act like they are terrified that you are going to dunk them, but it's funny how they manage to let you catch them. Kids are great!
It's great to be able to leave the responsibility to the parents, and just have fun with the grandchildren, feed them junk-food, and let them watch cartoons in your bed.
I hope my grandchildren have as much fun being my grandchildren, as their Grand-dad and I do being their grandparents.
Another great thing to do with a grandchild, is to take them swimming. That's a blast! They love it when you sneak up on them in the water, and act like you are going to dunk them, and when they get their water guns out and squirt you, then you have to chase them all over the pool, (and you have to take a really long time to catch them, because the longer it takes to catch them, the more fun you have), and then when you catch them, you have to dunk them, ( but you give them a chance to hold their nose before you do). They really act like they are terrified that you are going to dunk them, but it's funny how they manage to let you catch them. Kids are great!
It's great to be able to leave the responsibility to the parents, and just have fun with the grandchildren, feed them junk-food, and let them watch cartoons in your bed.
I hope my grandchildren have as much fun being my grandchildren, as their Grand-dad and I do being their grandparents.
Reasons To Not Garden In The Dark
Actually, there is only one good reason to not garden in the dark.........critters! ANY kind; flying, crawling, creeping, flitting, buzzing, slithering, you name it! Anything that does do any of these things is not your friend.
I was real proud of myself, I figured out the way to beat the heat was to string up lights and work at night. Sounded like a good idea, anyway. Well, I got out at dawn the other day, and was doing some heavy-duty clearing out of brush and weeds, and stirred up a hornet's nest. I managed to get out of the way real fast, but not before one of them got me; in three different places! Good grief! I didn't know that hornets (or wasps, whichever the one was that got me) could sting so quick in succession. That little booger got me good! And the bad thing about it is, that, as I have written about in the past, I am allergic to insect bites. I don't think that I am as allergic as my dad, ( a bee sting would actually send him into anaphalactic shock), but I definitely had a reaction. I got nauseated big time, and the injection sites themselves lasted for over a week, got real hard, and HURT for several days. Also, itched for several days.
As you know by now, I am always one to try a natural way to deal with a lot of things; not only do I like to try to save money, but it interests me to be able to solve the problem myself, instead of calling the doctor, or having to go buy insect spray, also, I feel a lot better using natural products instead of chemicals. All that to say; I dipped a q-tip in witch hazel, and kept it pressed to the injection sites, and it worked very well! I was so pleased to be able to find a home remedy that actually worked, ( so many that I have tried have NOT worked).
Which is actually one of the reasons for me starting a blog; to have a forum to be able to pass along things that I have learned (usually the hard way). So now we know..........
1. Witch hazel relieves itch from insect bites.
2.Bounce dryer sheets tied to your belt does NOT deter mosquitoes.
3. Avon skin-so-soft applied to skin is not a good mosquito repellent. ( but you smell good)
Another adventure that I experienced while I was working at dawn ( to beat the heat) ; I was lifting a rock that had fallen over from my flower bed, ( right by the front door.......very close to the house.........where people walk frequently.........) , and when I lifted the rock, I saw a very unusual-looking spider. Now, when you live in the country, you are going to see quite a wide variety of unusual-looking insects and vermin, but I had never seen a spider like this one before. And even though I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LIKE SPIDERS, I got me a couple of sticks and picked this one up and put it into a jar ( with a tight lid), so that I could look it up and try to identify it. When I was able to identify it, I found out that it was a sure-enough black widow spider. You have heard about certain things all your life, and sometimes they seem like a myth in a way, but then later discover that they actually DO exist in our part of the world. I was very glad that I had captured the thing, not only to identify it, but to rest secure knowing that there is one less black widow spider ( waiting beside my front door) , that I have to worry about biting me or one of my loved ones!
Ever since I found him, (or her), I have been afraid to walk into a dark room, afraid that if I sit on the couch that one will crawl from behind or under the cushions, afraid to go into my closet.
I am not afraid of snakes, but I absolutely cannot abide spiders, and creepy-crawlie insects. So, I will be initiating a spraying program to rid my little part of the world of this dangerous creature, so that I can feel more at ease in going about my every-day activities. I'll let you know what spray I wind up using, and how I feel that it works. Happy Gardening!
Facts that I have learned about black widow spiders:
1. when a female spider mates with a male, she actually very seldom ever eats him.
2. male black widows and juvenile black widows do not bite, only the females do.
3. black widows will only bite if they feel threatened.
4. they live under rocks, and in dark places.
5. black widow bites are 15 times more potent than a snake bite, but since so little venom is injected, humans rarely die from being bitten. ( Although this is the case, it is still an excellent idea to see your physician if you are bitten.)
6. black widows are very shiny black, and have the classic bright red 'hour-glass' mark on their underside.
7. black widows are one of the very few spiders that are actually harmful to humans. ( great, that WOULD be the one that I found on my property).
I was real proud of myself, I figured out the way to beat the heat was to string up lights and work at night. Sounded like a good idea, anyway. Well, I got out at dawn the other day, and was doing some heavy-duty clearing out of brush and weeds, and stirred up a hornet's nest. I managed to get out of the way real fast, but not before one of them got me; in three different places! Good grief! I didn't know that hornets (or wasps, whichever the one was that got me) could sting so quick in succession. That little booger got me good! And the bad thing about it is, that, as I have written about in the past, I am allergic to insect bites. I don't think that I am as allergic as my dad, ( a bee sting would actually send him into anaphalactic shock), but I definitely had a reaction. I got nauseated big time, and the injection sites themselves lasted for over a week, got real hard, and HURT for several days. Also, itched for several days.
As you know by now, I am always one to try a natural way to deal with a lot of things; not only do I like to try to save money, but it interests me to be able to solve the problem myself, instead of calling the doctor, or having to go buy insect spray, also, I feel a lot better using natural products instead of chemicals. All that to say; I dipped a q-tip in witch hazel, and kept it pressed to the injection sites, and it worked very well! I was so pleased to be able to find a home remedy that actually worked, ( so many that I have tried have NOT worked).
Which is actually one of the reasons for me starting a blog; to have a forum to be able to pass along things that I have learned (usually the hard way). So now we know..........
1. Witch hazel relieves itch from insect bites.
2.Bounce dryer sheets tied to your belt does NOT deter mosquitoes.
3. Avon skin-so-soft applied to skin is not a good mosquito repellent. ( but you smell good)
Another adventure that I experienced while I was working at dawn ( to beat the heat) ; I was lifting a rock that had fallen over from my flower bed, ( right by the front door.......very close to the house.........where people walk frequently.........) , and when I lifted the rock, I saw a very unusual-looking spider. Now, when you live in the country, you are going to see quite a wide variety of unusual-looking insects and vermin, but I had never seen a spider like this one before. And even though I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LIKE SPIDERS, I got me a couple of sticks and picked this one up and put it into a jar ( with a tight lid), so that I could look it up and try to identify it. When I was able to identify it, I found out that it was a sure-enough black widow spider. You have heard about certain things all your life, and sometimes they seem like a myth in a way, but then later discover that they actually DO exist in our part of the world. I was very glad that I had captured the thing, not only to identify it, but to rest secure knowing that there is one less black widow spider ( waiting beside my front door) , that I have to worry about biting me or one of my loved ones!
Ever since I found him, (or her), I have been afraid to walk into a dark room, afraid that if I sit on the couch that one will crawl from behind or under the cushions, afraid to go into my closet.
I am not afraid of snakes, but I absolutely cannot abide spiders, and creepy-crawlie insects. So, I will be initiating a spraying program to rid my little part of the world of this dangerous creature, so that I can feel more at ease in going about my every-day activities. I'll let you know what spray I wind up using, and how I feel that it works. Happy Gardening!
Facts that I have learned about black widow spiders:
1. when a female spider mates with a male, she actually very seldom ever eats him.
2. male black widows and juvenile black widows do not bite, only the females do.
3. black widows will only bite if they feel threatened.
4. they live under rocks, and in dark places.
5. black widow bites are 15 times more potent than a snake bite, but since so little venom is injected, humans rarely die from being bitten. ( Although this is the case, it is still an excellent idea to see your physician if you are bitten.)
6. black widows are very shiny black, and have the classic bright red 'hour-glass' mark on their underside.
7. black widows are one of the very few spiders that are actually harmful to humans. ( great, that WOULD be the one that I found on my property).
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I Hate Mosquitoes!
I'm afraid that its gotten to the time of the year when I get the "garden blahs". This is not good. I find it hard to get out there and do anything, weed, stake, etc. It's just so darn hot! And the mosquitoes have banded together and started a Carole Club.
I have tried so many remedies for mosquito control that I could probably write a recipe book for mosquito prevention. Problem is, none of these remedies seem to work for me. I have tried the remedy that everybody raves about, Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil, plain, and mixed with rubbing alcohol, quite a few essential oils, vanilla extract, ( that one didn't work either, but I sure smelled good; did you know women in 'the old days' used to use vanilla for perfume? Cool, huh?) Anyway, I have tried the Bounce fabric-softener sheet tied to my belt, I think THAT one sent subliminal messages to every mosquito in the state of Alabama to come for a special meeting of the Carole Club; I have tried sprays galore, they all seem to work for a short time, but not for long. ( BTW- the DEET that is in a lot of the sprays is not supposed to exceed 35%; its bad enough to have a chemical on your skin, but you don't want to repel mosquitoes and be poisoned while doing it. There ARE higher levels of DEET in some brands, so be sure to read the label.) So I tried a spray with 40% DEET in it, and promptly broke out in hives. It ain't fun to have hives. Your hands and feet swell up, and you get huge 'blops' all over, and once you ever start scratching, you will have the dickens of a time stopping! So, then you go to Wally World and pay $25.00 for 45 Zyrtec so you won't get sleepy while waiting for all your symptoms to get better, and find that you just as well to have paid $4.23 for 400 x-brand Benadryl at Sam's as to have gotten the Zyrtec, because the Zyrtec makes you just as sleepy as the Benadryl. Good grief! One thing that actually works for me, however, is a product that Avon puts out. It is a sunblock and mosquito repellent combo, that I have actually had good luck with. Now if I can just find an Avon lady........sigh!
So, not only do I have mosquito itches, but I have hives from the mosquito spray, and now that I have much more foliage in my garden, and have more contact with it, I have found that I am allergic to my garden. Yep, here come the hives again! Man, I can't win for losing.
I seriously ask myself why I continue to do this, ( garden, that is.) In 2003, when I moved up to the house that I am living in now, I decided to give gardening a try. I bought every book known to man, ( ok, only about 20 of them); studied up on the subject, ( I like to be well informed), put my raised beds in, (more work at the beginning, but not near as much hassle in subsequent years), dug and hoed, plowed, dumped, bought, planted, weeded, SWEATED. I definitely put body and soul into this venture, let me tell you. I never seemed to be able to harvest much from my garden, though. If it wasn't the bug problems, it was disease, or critters. I never knew so much could go wrong with a garden. The good thing about it is, I have learned (the hard way) what NOT to do. (see previous post) I would have so loved to have had someone to be able to ask questions of. ( BTW, I have since discovered the county extension office; Alabama Cooperative Extension Services, ACES.edu) So, back to the question, why do I do this?
There's just something about getting out in God's world, being a part of nature, digging in the dirt, ( amost-50 year old ladies are not supposed to enjoy digging in dirt, and hunting worms.) I feel so much peace out in my garden. I get out there, crank up the music, ( actually sing along if I have enough breath to do so, much to the dismay of the neighbors), and have myself a good old time just doing what has to be done. I have always enjoyed working outside, I feel more free out there, happier. And, of course, there's always the hope that some of these extra pounds will vamoose. And I keep thinking that if I keep trying, that eventually I will get the hang of it. ( It seems to be working, actually; my garden looks better this year than it ever has before). There's just something in my soul that screams, " Get out there in the beauty that God has given you, enjoy yourself, and teach others!" And, since, this is what is in my soul, this is what I will do. It's nice to know that you are doing what you are meant to do. Happy Gardening.
I have tried so many remedies for mosquito control that I could probably write a recipe book for mosquito prevention. Problem is, none of these remedies seem to work for me. I have tried the remedy that everybody raves about, Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil, plain, and mixed with rubbing alcohol, quite a few essential oils, vanilla extract, ( that one didn't work either, but I sure smelled good; did you know women in 'the old days' used to use vanilla for perfume? Cool, huh?) Anyway, I have tried the Bounce fabric-softener sheet tied to my belt, I think THAT one sent subliminal messages to every mosquito in the state of Alabama to come for a special meeting of the Carole Club; I have tried sprays galore, they all seem to work for a short time, but not for long. ( BTW- the DEET that is in a lot of the sprays is not supposed to exceed 35%; its bad enough to have a chemical on your skin, but you don't want to repel mosquitoes and be poisoned while doing it. There ARE higher levels of DEET in some brands, so be sure to read the label.) So I tried a spray with 40% DEET in it, and promptly broke out in hives. It ain't fun to have hives. Your hands and feet swell up, and you get huge 'blops' all over, and once you ever start scratching, you will have the dickens of a time stopping! So, then you go to Wally World and pay $25.00 for 45 Zyrtec so you won't get sleepy while waiting for all your symptoms to get better, and find that you just as well to have paid $4.23 for 400 x-brand Benadryl at Sam's as to have gotten the Zyrtec, because the Zyrtec makes you just as sleepy as the Benadryl. Good grief! One thing that actually works for me, however, is a product that Avon puts out. It is a sunblock and mosquito repellent combo, that I have actually had good luck with. Now if I can just find an Avon lady........sigh!
So, not only do I have mosquito itches, but I have hives from the mosquito spray, and now that I have much more foliage in my garden, and have more contact with it, I have found that I am allergic to my garden. Yep, here come the hives again! Man, I can't win for losing.
I seriously ask myself why I continue to do this, ( garden, that is.) In 2003, when I moved up to the house that I am living in now, I decided to give gardening a try. I bought every book known to man, ( ok, only about 20 of them); studied up on the subject, ( I like to be well informed), put my raised beds in, (more work at the beginning, but not near as much hassle in subsequent years), dug and hoed, plowed, dumped, bought, planted, weeded, SWEATED. I definitely put body and soul into this venture, let me tell you. I never seemed to be able to harvest much from my garden, though. If it wasn't the bug problems, it was disease, or critters. I never knew so much could go wrong with a garden. The good thing about it is, I have learned (the hard way) what NOT to do. (see previous post) I would have so loved to have had someone to be able to ask questions of. ( BTW, I have since discovered the county extension office; Alabama Cooperative Extension Services, ACES.edu) So, back to the question, why do I do this?
There's just something about getting out in God's world, being a part of nature, digging in the dirt, ( amost-50 year old ladies are not supposed to enjoy digging in dirt, and hunting worms.) I feel so much peace out in my garden. I get out there, crank up the music, ( actually sing along if I have enough breath to do so, much to the dismay of the neighbors), and have myself a good old time just doing what has to be done. I have always enjoyed working outside, I feel more free out there, happier. And, of course, there's always the hope that some of these extra pounds will vamoose. And I keep thinking that if I keep trying, that eventually I will get the hang of it. ( It seems to be working, actually; my garden looks better this year than it ever has before). There's just something in my soul that screams, " Get out there in the beauty that God has given you, enjoy yourself, and teach others!" And, since, this is what is in my soul, this is what I will do. It's nice to know that you are doing what you are meant to do. Happy Gardening.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Help For The Garden
Here is a tip that may help some of you fellow gardeners:
Chop one small onion with two medium cloves of garlic.Blend on high in the blender, then strain the pulp through cheesecloth or panty hose. Pour the liquid into a hand-held mist sprayer, and spray your flowers at the first sign of aphid infestation.
Aphids are a big problem in the garden. They are tiny little soft-bodied bugs that situate themselves on your plants, and suck the juice out of them. Not only is this hazardous to your plants, but they carry diseases as well. It looks like it has rained and splashed dirt up on your plants, only what looks like dirt is actually very tiny bugs. But these little tiny bugs can do a LOT of damage in a very short time. They cluster on the stems and undersides of leaves mostly, but can be just about anywhere when they get real bad. When aphids are present, they produce a fluid called honeydew, which draws ants. Ants LOVE honeydew, and will do everything they can to protect them from harm, to keep their supply of honeydew from vanishing. If you see a lot of ants in your garden, look for aphids, chances are you will find them.
It is a good idea to check your garden every day for signs of pests and diseases. It doesn't take long at all for either one to wipe out your crops. Believe me, I have learned this the hard way.
I have tried to garden for about five years now, and have found that it is harder than it looks. I have seen gardens all over, where it looked like people just threw seeds into the ground and viola! plants burst from the ground and vegatables grew with leaps and bounds.....bountifully! For some reason it never worked this way for me. I'd dig. And dig. And dig some more. And plant. And weed. And weed. And weed. And put up trellises. And weed. And put down mulch. And anything else I could think of to grow plants that produced food. And along would come the bugs. Of every kind, bringing all their friends and relatives with them. And diseases; dear lord, I never knew so many things could go wrong with plants! I finally figured out several things that made a tremendous difference in plant health:
1. You have to have adequate sunlight for plants to grow well. When the books say 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, it doesn't mean that you can plant in the woods and expect a garden to do well. You can plant in the woods if you want to, but you are going to have problems. If a plant is not healthy, it cannot protect itself from disease, poor growth, bugs, etc.
2. You have to feed plants. In order for them to be healthy, they have to have food. If they cannot get what nutrients they need from the earth, then you have to supply them if you expect to reap a harvest. A lot of the time the quality of the soil is poor, sometimes what was planted before in the same area leached all of the particular nutrients that this plant happens to need, and therefore nothing is there for the plant to eat. Remember: if a plant is not healthy........
3. Worms are very good for gardens.
4. Dogs are NOT good for gardens.
5. Hoping a problem will resolve with no intervention on my part does not mean that the problem will fix itself.
6. 7-year-olds do a pretty good job of watering if you show them what to do, ( and promise to pay them).
7. You can get 4-year-olds to pull the hose for their brother if you give LOTS of encouragement.(And promise to pay them as well).
8. It's wonderful to have a garden buddy to talk to ( and help shovel manure). How many times do you have to shovel that stuff anyway? You gather it up, unload it from the trailer, turn the compost heap several times, shovel it into the garden, rake it out, etc. And it isn't the most pleasant thing in the world to deal with.............
9.It helps to be strong.
10. Mosquitoes love blood. Mine, especially.
11. If you have music to listen to, you can get a lot more done, but it can't be slow, mournful stuff, it has to make you want to MOVE!
12. Surely all this activity will result in the loss of SOME weight!
13. You can string lights around the garden fence and work at night when it is not so hot.
14. Nothing tastes as good as water when you are bone-dry.
15. You cannot expect water pressure to be good when your hose is 200 feet long and going uphill.
16. Bugs are very sneaky and they play hide-and-seek very well.
17. I hate mosquitoes.
18. Rocks grow and reproduce.
19. Son-in-laws can run the tiller if you look helpless enough.
20. I'm told that if you shoot off firecrackers, it will drive off the mosquitoes. ( I'll let you know how that one works. )
Chop one small onion with two medium cloves of garlic.Blend on high in the blender, then strain the pulp through cheesecloth or panty hose. Pour the liquid into a hand-held mist sprayer, and spray your flowers at the first sign of aphid infestation.
Aphids are a big problem in the garden. They are tiny little soft-bodied bugs that situate themselves on your plants, and suck the juice out of them. Not only is this hazardous to your plants, but they carry diseases as well. It looks like it has rained and splashed dirt up on your plants, only what looks like dirt is actually very tiny bugs. But these little tiny bugs can do a LOT of damage in a very short time. They cluster on the stems and undersides of leaves mostly, but can be just about anywhere when they get real bad. When aphids are present, they produce a fluid called honeydew, which draws ants. Ants LOVE honeydew, and will do everything they can to protect them from harm, to keep their supply of honeydew from vanishing. If you see a lot of ants in your garden, look for aphids, chances are you will find them.
It is a good idea to check your garden every day for signs of pests and diseases. It doesn't take long at all for either one to wipe out your crops. Believe me, I have learned this the hard way.
I have tried to garden for about five years now, and have found that it is harder than it looks. I have seen gardens all over, where it looked like people just threw seeds into the ground and viola! plants burst from the ground and vegatables grew with leaps and bounds.....bountifully! For some reason it never worked this way for me. I'd dig. And dig. And dig some more. And plant. And weed. And weed. And weed. And put up trellises. And weed. And put down mulch. And anything else I could think of to grow plants that produced food. And along would come the bugs. Of every kind, bringing all their friends and relatives with them. And diseases; dear lord, I never knew so many things could go wrong with plants! I finally figured out several things that made a tremendous difference in plant health:
1. You have to have adequate sunlight for plants to grow well. When the books say 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, it doesn't mean that you can plant in the woods and expect a garden to do well. You can plant in the woods if you want to, but you are going to have problems. If a plant is not healthy, it cannot protect itself from disease, poor growth, bugs, etc.
2. You have to feed plants. In order for them to be healthy, they have to have food. If they cannot get what nutrients they need from the earth, then you have to supply them if you expect to reap a harvest. A lot of the time the quality of the soil is poor, sometimes what was planted before in the same area leached all of the particular nutrients that this plant happens to need, and therefore nothing is there for the plant to eat. Remember: if a plant is not healthy........
3. Worms are very good for gardens.
4. Dogs are NOT good for gardens.
5. Hoping a problem will resolve with no intervention on my part does not mean that the problem will fix itself.
6. 7-year-olds do a pretty good job of watering if you show them what to do, ( and promise to pay them).
7. You can get 4-year-olds to pull the hose for their brother if you give LOTS of encouragement.(And promise to pay them as well).
8. It's wonderful to have a garden buddy to talk to ( and help shovel manure). How many times do you have to shovel that stuff anyway? You gather it up, unload it from the trailer, turn the compost heap several times, shovel it into the garden, rake it out, etc. And it isn't the most pleasant thing in the world to deal with.............
9.It helps to be strong.
10. Mosquitoes love blood. Mine, especially.
11. If you have music to listen to, you can get a lot more done, but it can't be slow, mournful stuff, it has to make you want to MOVE!
12. Surely all this activity will result in the loss of SOME weight!
13. You can string lights around the garden fence and work at night when it is not so hot.
14. Nothing tastes as good as water when you are bone-dry.
15. You cannot expect water pressure to be good when your hose is 200 feet long and going uphill.
16. Bugs are very sneaky and they play hide-and-seek very well.
17. I hate mosquitoes.
18. Rocks grow and reproduce.
19. Son-in-laws can run the tiller if you look helpless enough.
20. I'm told that if you shoot off firecrackers, it will drive off the mosquitoes. ( I'll let you know how that one works. )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)