Like it or not, Hot is what we got! I do like a few days of really hot weather-I think it is necessary to remove the previous winter's cold from the bones! Plus it is fun to see plants grow right before your eyes!
The garden is growing- some areas better than others, and as always I find areas that need a tweak here and there! It also seems like the bug population is bigger than usual, and I'm getting new insects. This is usually not a good thing. I've discovered a new bug I call the ladybug on steroids, but she's no lady, it is a milkweed leaf beetle, and all I've seen it eat is the plant. The milkweed stem weevil is also pretty destructive to the milkweed plant- she lays eggs in the stem of the plant. So it's easy to see she is in the yard, not always as easy to find her. I've always had a kind of "live and let live" attitude about bugs, but not this summer! They are destroying the brussel sprouts, weakening the milkweed, invading my apples, and chewing on my grapevine. I've overcome my squeamishness, and I'm committed to squishing! I encountered a new insect today, and didn't even realize it was an insect until I looked at the photo on my laptop. I'll see if the U of M extension service knows what is-good bug or bad bug? It is a pretty cool looking bug. The good news on the insect front is about all the bees in the yard, big bees, tiny bees, definitely hungry bees! Bert and Ernie should be emerging soon! Greenie
 |
| cool looking insect! Bee on top. |
 |
| tiny bees on prairie clover |
 |
| wasp or bee? on butterfly weed |
 |
| large Bumblebee on Monarda |
 |
| Bee heaven |
 |
| another pretty face |
 |
| porch vines |
 |
| Bert's closeup |
No comments:
Post a Comment