MYSTERY SOLVED

WHEN LAST WE SPOKE I THOUGHT TWO THINGS

I HAD AN INVASION OF MEXICAN BEEN BEETLES

AND…

I HAD THEM LICKED.

HOW WRONG I WAS

BUT THROUGH THE POWER OF THE BLOGASPHERE

AND A DILLIGENT FELLOW GARDENER

MYSTERY SOLVED!

KRISTINA’S MOTHER MARY IS A GIFTED GARDENER

 

SHE LIVES IN A MUCH COOLER CLIMATE

WITH A SHORTER GROWING SEASON

SO SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE SEASON

WHEN I SPOKE TO HER THIS WEEK SHE WAS OFF TO PICK BLUEBERRIES

HOW FUN

SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERS AT THE LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE

ANSWERING QUESTIONS

IDENTIFYING  PROBLEMS

THANKFULLY HER CURIOSITY GOT THE BEST OF HER

SHE GOOGLED ONCE AND GOT AN ANSWER

HARLEQUIN BUGS

BINGO

HERE’S THE LINK SHE SENT ME IN CASE YOU HAVE THEM

http://www.growit.umd.edu/PlantandPestProblems/Harlequin%20Bug.cfm

TORRY, NEXT DOOR, IS A LITTLE CONCERNED I’VE CHASED THEM TO HER HOUSE

BASICALLY, UNLESS I WANT TO PULL OUT THE SPRAY GUN

I’VE DONE ABOUT ALL I CAN DO.

KEEP PICKING THEM OFF AND SQUISHING THEM.

IT IS SLOWING REDUCING THE POPULATION.

I’M NOT SURE WHAT BROUGHT THEM MY WAY

I’M GUESSING THE LEAVES THAT I USED AS MULCH

FOR A BIT TOO LONG

BUT NOW I KNOW

THANKS MARY 

 

SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ABOUT KEEPING POTS ALIVE DURING OUR SUMMER FROM @#$%$#@#

SO HERE ARE A FEW SURVIVAL THOUGHTS

IF POSSIBLE MOVE THEM INTO AFTERNOON SHADE

IF THERE ARE SITTING ON CONCRETE TRY TO FIND THEM A MORE HOSPITABLE  FOUNDATION

IF YOU CAN’T MOVE THEM INTO SHADE

TRY BRINGING THE SHADE TO THEM

MARKET UMBRELLAS ARE GREAT FOR THIS

CLUSTER YOUR POTS TOGETHER

PUT THE UMBRELLA STAND IN THE MIDDLE

AND WHEN YOU STAND THE UMBRELLA UP

YOU HAVE INSTANT SHADE

AND YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST FOR COOK OUTS!

I’M USING MINE TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG DOGWOOD TREES.

WE PLANTED THEM AS UNDERSTORY TREES.

LAST FALL THE UTILITY COMPANY CAME THROUGH AND TRIMMED AWAY THE “UPPER STORY” SHADE

 

SO THE GREAT THING ABOUT MARKET UMBRELLAS WITH STANDS IS THEIR PORTABILITY.

LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT IN YOUR YARD MIGHT LIKE A LITTLE AFTERNOON  BREAK.

 

THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO FOR POTS IS TO ADD MOISTURE RETENTION GRANULES.

I KNOW – IT’S BEST DONE BACK IN THE SPRING

BEFORE YOU PLANTED THEM

BUT IN CASE YOU FORGOT

OR THOUGHT YOU WERE LIVING ON CAPE COD 

YOU CAN STILL ADD THEM

TAKE A SCREW DRIVER OR PENCIL AND MAKE A DEEP HOLE

FILL THE HOLE WITH THE GRANULES

AND WATER

THEY WILL SWELL UP AND HELP TO KEEP THE SOIL MOIST

YOU CAN DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES

 DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE POT

AFTER YEARS OF TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR MY BIG POTS

I THINK I’VE FINALLY FIGURED THEM OUT

THE VARIEGATED PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS IS GREAT IN THE CENTER OF THE POT

GOOD HEIGHT AND IT CAN TAKE THE HEAT

SEEMS TO THRIVE ON IT

YELLOW LANTANA INTER-PLANTED WITH PURPLE NIEREMBERGIA

IS HAPPY ALONG THE EDGES

THIS, OF COURSE, MEANS I’M DONE WITH PETUNIAS

I KNOW – IT’S HARSH

BUT REALLY…

THEY BUILD YOU UP IN SPRING

JUST TO DIE

AND LET YOU DOWN COME JULY

HELP ME REMEMBER

I’VE SWORN OFF PETUNIAS

FOREVER

PROBABLY

STAY COOL AND ENJOY

GAIL

HERE ARE A FEW FLOWERS THAT SEEM TO THRIVE ON SUNSHINE.