I've Graduated

"My infestation was nothing close to how awful this one is!"

It use to be that if any bug came along I would'nt touch it with a 10' pole. Today, with some slight effort, I squashed a few aphids between my fingers. And...I wasn't wearing gloves! Sounds gross, but when you start to spend as much time outside as I have, you start to get use to the bugs. I'm a bit proud of myself for being so brave. I can't pat myself on the back yet though. The grasshoppers scare me to death and I still run from things that buzz. Oh well, at least I can take some pride in the fact that my thumb just may be turning green indeed! Graduated? I think yes...from "bug terrors" to "bug squasher." When I'm finished mixing some all natural pesticides I will have graduated from "bug terrors" to "bug terrorist." lol

Squashing Bugs,

Monica ;0)

Ants!

"Red Ants...ugh!"

"They've taken over the backyard!"

Since it's time (pass time) to plant my experimental garden, I decided since I'm not expecting too much from it (it was a long winter, lol) that I would plant it into the ground. Especially since I'm not wanting to waste good soil on plants that are, well...not so healthy. lol So, I started to dig a hole, then two...then I was standing in a swarm of ants. Not just any ants, red fire ants! Ugh! Ouch! :( I thought, how could I of missed them when I started digging. Well, days later, I realized that it wasn't that they were already swarming, they started swarming because I dug right into their home. This prompted me to take a good hard look at the ant holes in my back yard. I knew I had some but I didn't realize there were so many!!!! My husband said to me yesterday that we needed to do something about the ants in the backyard before they get into the house again. He suggested pesticides. ugh Now I'm looking for a natural way to get rid of these ants. Any suggestions?

Ants bite! Monica ;)

Ode to the Dirt

Oh where, oh where is my dirt? I wish I could plant directly into the ground. But, since we don't own this house and we are not planning on buying it, we made our garden portable. I purchased 27 - 18 gallon tubs and 4 - plastic buckets. I've planted the strawberries into the buckets and 1 plant (blackberry) into an 18 gallon round tub. I'm chomping at the bit waiting to get my dirt. My husband said he needed to fix the truck first. As of today it's been in the shop for 2 days. I have ... wait for it ... wait for it ... ANTS IN MY PANTS!!! lol


Until the truck is ready, I've written a poem to express my excitement...

Oh dirt, oh dirt, how I long for you
your a balance of the lovely earth, without cides

Oh dirt, oh dirt, how we long for you
your bringing fourth daydreams of mouths open wide

Ode to the Dirt,
Monica ;0)

Spring is here!

It's finally here. Spring!...and all it's...coldness. I never realized how long it remains cold when you want the weather, i.e. sunshine, to reign in all it's glory. I've never looked forward to heat or summer for that matter. But, since I've taken such an interest in gardening...I can't wait. Yesterday we had a major rain. I'm a bit in shock since about a couple of weeks ago it seemed like summer wanted to take over. Today, it's overcast with a few bouts of sun. I can't wait to check in on my new plants. Speaking of plants,

I've purchased many new varieties to add to my garden.

*Orange Tree

*Avocado Tree

*Lemon Tree (I have a mini lemon tree.)

*Another Blackberry plant

*2 Blueberry plants (they say to plant 2 different varieties for better production.)

*2 Grape vine plants

*6 Strawberry plants

*1 Habanero plant

*1 Spearmint plant

*1 Peppermint plant

"My latest additions. Avacado tree, Blueberry plant, Lemon tree and Orange tree."

"My Avacado tree upclose. So pretty!"

"Eureka Lemon tree! Dare I say Lemonade!"

"I'm so excited this Orange tree has new leafage already!"

"Blueberry pie anyone?"

I'm not proud of the fact that I didn't grow these plants from seed, but when it comes to trees and vines, I'm ok making an exception. It takes SO long for them to grow. And, maybe they haven't been treated organically during their beginning life stages...but they will be now. lol

Welcoming in the Spring,

Monica ;0)