Lately I have a few things in my garden that keep me guessing...
These are my compost pumpkins.Well, I think they are pumpkins. They look pumpkin-y. One day a small trailing vine started and I thought, let's see what happens. The next thing I knew, my poor compost pile was buried.
What's interesting is while I may have put a jack-o-lantern or two in the compost last fall, I did not put any on the other side of the yard where I have another gourd-like thing growing....
I may be doing pumpkin giveaways this fall...
I sprayed my yard last year with a "very green" beneficial nematode for grubs, which worked, the grubs were gone. Grubs are what Japanese beetles come from. What I didn't count on was my neighbors beetles deciding my yard was yummier. I am actually considering getting one of those traps, some people say it actually attracts them, but how many more can it possibly attract? I'm already"dispatching"30-50 a night in what we refer to as "the cup of death". It involves dish soap, a lot of swimming and finally a watery grave. It's totally crazy. It's a regular beetle love shack in my backyard. I'll knock piles of 5 and 6 having "a party" at one time with each other at all hours. I have to say, they are very non-discriminating; it's all 1960's free-love in the Rizzo's yard, until I come along of course and stop those shenanigans.
It's a good lesson to learn, though.
Note to self: reaction times are slower when fornicating.
Though they might not be too happy with me for ruining their fun. They've actually started buzzing me when I approach.
And there's my lemon balm, I've heard it referred to as Lemon BOMB. Now I know why. Unlike me, it loves to run ( it is in the mint family, you'd think I would know better.) and is quickly taking over everything including my poor Golden Oregano. I've had it in it's neat little spot for the last 5 years, it smelled so nice when I walked past it and this year... Kaboom! I swear it's in cahoots with the pumpkins. And the beetles.
And finally, there's been another surprise paparazzi attempt, but ironically enough, it's me explaining to my girl's how to do the beetle control. They were very enthralled until they realized the little suckers don't go down without a fight and will hang onto your fingers for dear life if you're not quick enough.
It was not a pretty sight.
There was a lot of screaming involved.
But life's full of surprises, isn't it? :)
Jen
Ugh. I hate those beetles. I cannot think of the purpose they serve in the food-chain so I say lets just get rid of them once and for all! I cannot tell you how much I looooove coming in at night after a little gardening and finding one or two have taken on residence in my hair. Ok, too much information??
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo...I've got a giveaway going on girl, so get over there and get your name in!
~mary~
Ewww I hate those beetles and I may or may not do some screaming of my own when they get in my hair. YUCK! We thought we had a pumpkin vine growing where I threw the old jack-o-lanterns last year but it wasn't. Just weeds. :(
ReplyDeleteAlways something fun goin' on at the Rizzo residence! Girl, you're a brave soul, I don't think I could face those critters down as fearlessly as you've done.
ReplyDeleteGo get 'em, Jen! :-)
I hate those pests. What is the name of that grub stuff? I so need to get rid of them in my yard. I also found tomato hornworms on my tomato plants happily munching away. Those are so disgusting and hard to find. I got curly grabby shoots coming from my pumpkin plants. They also resemble my cucumber plants which also get those too.
ReplyDeleteGross, Japanese beetles are disgusting to me, the past couple of years we've had real problems with them. They devoured a crepe myrtle last year!Aggravating!!
ReplyDeleteCarol in GA
http://antiquesanduniques.blogspot.com
A deadly Love Shack-Ha! Those beetles deserve it. They are destructors!
ReplyDeleteJoyce
P.S. I also have some Lemon Bomb! Aarrrgggg
I don't sound very positive today, do I?
i feel your paint, those darn beetles killed most of my red geraniums! the lemon balm, seriously takes over everything! do you have any ideas of what to do with it? it was here when we moved in and it would be nice to put it to good use! enjoy the week! susan
ReplyDeleteThose beetles are a pain aren't they! I usually spray my veggies with a mixture of dishsoap and water. Works, until it rains or you have to use the sprinkler. I can just hear the screaming with the girls....
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Penny
We used on of the bags to catch to beetles. We put the bag in the common ground at the end of our property and it did a great job. Maybe you could put the bag in your neighbor's yard!
ReplyDeleteI have those beetles too. HATE them. I hate wasps and bees too and the beetles sound just as scary when dive bombing me in the yard. They are so dumb. They fly right into you for no reason. Freaky! Loved your zinnia pics in your last post. I didn't get my zinnias started until way late and they are not producing yet. Maybe by Halloween...ugh.
ReplyDeletefree love at the rizzo house eh?
ReplyDeletejust throw them in that solution every time you see them and that's the only 'green' way to get rid of them (so I hear)
I have been using this stuff called Pyola from Gardens Alive (hope that is the name) and it is sort of organic- I mix it up in my sprayer and nail the plants about once a week...seems to be working. There are many less than there were in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI was so glad to meet you and I hope to see you again soon.
Beetles aside, I love your creative view of the garden. Makes me want to cook it all.
ReplyDeletei just saw one of those beetles the other day. yuck. your garden looks great - pumpkins and all.
ReplyDeleteJapenese beetles are the worst! I learned in master gardener class that those beetle traps attract them from a 5 mile radious so whatever you do....don't get one of those! I use the hand-pick method in the soapy water filled bucket. GOOD LUCK!
ReplyDeleteHugs N Herbal Blessings, Mandy
Haha - it's too cold for beetle patrol down here at the moment, but you'll often see me screaming around doing chook patrol. Our chickens have discovered the winter vege garden!
ReplyDeleteP.S. My mom cans her pumpkins. You should look into it!
ReplyDeleteYou can Put a liner under the lemon "bomb" and it'll keep it there for years. Btw my strawberries,seagrass,pinetrees, and grapes must know your beetles and the lemon bomb.
ReplyDelete