When pretty goes bad

Oh, my love and hate for the swallowtail butterflies and the massive larvae they pump out.

They're like models of the natural world except for being super-parsley/cilantro/parsnip-eater-destroyers as children and then gorgeous pollen spreading humanitarians sipping nectar cocktails in the garden. All on my tab.

Their presence makes my garden look better if you like butterflies, but not if you want some veggies... which is what I care more for than the visual interest. Sorry, my stomach fights my eyes and wins all the time. If you've cooked the creations I have you can forgive unpretty food.

Swallowtail caterpillar larvae in reference to my pinky finger. (Click on the pics to see the detail on the caterpillars)

These are the larva at various stages of development. I usually notice them when they're HUGE, as big as my thumb and really chomping away. (This really doesn't show what great powers of perception I have, does it?)

The small guys here produce little balls of black frass that collect on the plant stems/leaves, a helpful way to notice their presence and the big guys, if you don't notice them at first in all their glory, leave behind large collections as round as half a pinky-nail. You can usually track them from there. Wow, sounds all hunter-prey-like except on an exceptionally smaller scale... and less tasty.

I have been finding quite a few newly emerging butterflies looking all pillow-eyed and cocoon wrinkled.


Another one: needing a tan and some fluids to PUMP HER UP! (You know, they need fluids to pump through their wings to expand them? I would NEVER suggest the butterflies are on 'roids!)

There must be at least 2 generations that occur during the growing season here because I have encountered some of the ginormous caterpillers once already this year and now I am seeing these little guys once again.

Having no heart to squish caterpillars *unless they're hornworms* I tossed these back onto some chrysanthemums and will let them make it back on their own. Give my parsnips some time to recoup before they are dined upon again.

Ageratums: Bug birth control

This past Sunday, Dave from The Home Garden blog mentioned that he had a surprise plant: http://www.growingthehomegarden.com/2009/08/plant-i-didnt-even-know-i-had.html

I was ecstatic that I actually had something to comment on for once because I too got a surprise plant of the same variety from a woman whom I traded plants with.

Meet the ageratum, also called flossflower:


(closeup of leaves)

Unfortunately mine isn't in bloom, I took the pics too late, but as you could see in The Home Garden blog and the following links, it has clusters of very pretty purple-blue small starry flowers

Next to a lot of certain salvias such as my pineapple sage (Salvia elegans: http://www.floridata.com/ref/S/salv_ele.cfm) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis: http://www.floridata.com/ref/M/meli_off.cfm) when not looked too closely, the foliage can be overlooked as a match with either of those, both which happened in my herb garden.

Initially I freaked out when I saw the flowers because I had no clue as to what the heck this thing was (or if I had eaten it). Luckily when you rub the leaves of ageratum it has really no smell, especially in comparison to that of pineapple sage or lemon balm, so there was no worryin mistakening it for one of my tasty tea herbs.

When I asked about the plant to a gardener lady friend of mine, she backed away in a sort of revulsion because it is considered somewhat invasive. Therefore I yanked it out of my garden and handed if off to native plant lover... only to find later I may have rid myself of a useful plant.

Apparently ageratum has the ability to secret a chemical that affects bugs when they eat it by disrupting their juvenile hormones, rendering them infertile!

Now, while I was tempted to ask for the plant back... that's not good etiquette, so I kept my eye out alongside roads and etc, but lucky for me ageratum's supposed hardiness (invasiveness?) won the day and returned by popping out of nowhere again. I immediately dug it up and out of the herb bed and replanted it off to the side until I can find a nice permanent location for it.

I'd like to note that it's not as though all bugs like to munch on ageratum, but at least your garden has a fighting chance of rendering your bugs unable to get it on and make eggs if they do eat it and it seems that scientists are busy figuring out potential pesticides involving the chemical ageratum uses to create strife upon pests' reproductive systems.

One more final note: the ageratum I have is not the more exotic conyzoides variety, but the houstonianum sort. So, the effect may not be as lethal as the conyzoides type that is listed in science journals, but to my understanding, still effective in its own weaker fashion. Hey, whatever works right?

More pics (with the flowers) and info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratum_conyzoides
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageratum_houstonianum
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54970/


Being ex-bio major I felt that it wouldn't be correct unless I added some scientific articles for further proof:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8Y-41XV7YW-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=989286931&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=8b5b325b4b4de8db2ec15b54193ad585

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/114250531/issue
(do a word search for ageratum, doesn't let me link to the actual abstract)

Stevia Concentrate

I have had a stevia (sweet leaf) plant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia) for over a year now and have been lucky that it came back after generous mulching on my part.

I consider it mostly a novel herb, as I am not in the habit of calorie counting, but the premise of a plant that evolved to taste intensely sweet (for what purposes?) is fascinating to me, and so when I remember I add to my herbal tisane mixes for a refreshing drink that doesn't make me have to get a cut of sugar or deal with gooey honey, but take a snip of the herb with my others I am gathering in the garden.

As I have a tendency to forget about it and use it within a good amount of time I always seem to end up with more than I need or it grows all rambly and not bushy like I'd like.

So this time around I know quite a few people who would appreciate this wonder herb and I've made some stevia concentrate for us all.

I used the following recipe from this site:
http://www.jeansgreens.com/stevia.pdf

Mostly I covered a large bunch of stevia I had with water, let it boil to the prescribed time the recipe listed, cooled, strained and voila, concentrate.


I made the mistake of tasting a spoonful just to be certain it was sweet enough and gagged at the ridiculous nectar-like ju SUPERSWEET flavor. I'm more of a savory bacon type of girl, not cakes and brownies, so I am sensitive to sweet. I mean, 40 drops equals 1 cup of sugar it says!

I only wish I had a dropper bottle I could use to gift this in so that people could measure properly. This re-used capers bottle is still pretty spiffy looking and I think its plenty for people who are experimenting. I wrapped a budding stevia stem around it to make it even spiffier :)

bcooper5, thanks!

To my one and only apparent non-family/friend reader, thanks again!

It's nice to know that I'm not talking/writing to the air.

Carrying on...

Hornworms! Run!

Moseying about my thus far unsuccessfully fruiting poblano/ancho pepper plants yesterday I encountered a nasty:
(reference to my hand)
(reference to my pinky)

I had noted that my poblano pepper had yet to set fruit and seemed to appear gnawed upon. I suspected that it was obviously some bug that liked to chew had been at it and I ins response have been diligently spraying my plant down with dilute neem oil.

Little did I expect to see this guy and miss him at this SIZE.

This is a tobacco hornworm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornworm), a little different from the regular tomato hornworm but still happy to munch on all in the Solanaceae family(aka nightshade family such as eggplant, peppers, tomatoes).

I pulled him off to take pictures and I KNOW I am supposed to smoosh'em but I have difficulties with that, so in deference to nature I tried feeding it to the praying mantis, but she wasn't having it. Maybe she's on a diet... or maybe the fact that the hornworm was possibly 2x her size could have been the reason or maybe hornworms are unusual and unpalatable to mantises, which seems reasonable.

So I tried feeding it to the golden orb spider, but yeah, hornworm was too heavy and that just left a nice hole in the web when I attempted to chuck it in. Sorry to mess the place up ma'am. After exiting the spider web the hornworm fell into the bushes where I couldn't find it but far enough away from its regular buffet, so I think it'll just die.

Unfortunately, when there's one hornworm there's always plenty more and sure enough I found about 3 more munching away including a swallow tail butterfly caterpillar going away at the parsnips (I know the 'snips should have been pulled up WAY before now, they may be 3 months overdue... I'm just worried that they'll be woody and bitter if I pull up now before a frost or if I can freeze them to get to them sweet, or do I have to really boil?)

Anyways, since I couldn't get anything to eat them, and feel weird about smooshing them, so I throw them VERY FAR AWAY into the park, and hope that it's too far for them to make it back or that the bouncing off the ground gets them. I wonder if birds like them and I can put them in a bottle of sorts for the birds to pick them out.... that would be sort of neat.

I understand that I can Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis ) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis) the worms (caterpillars) but it's not a big deal to do so unless there's a real infestation. Plus, I want to keep things on the cheap too. So unless the worms want to see me really angry like the Hulk, we'll keep it mostly civil here.

Randomly, I have heard murmurings online that hornworms are edible. A little olive oil and frying some say. Hmm... maybe if I need to be a survivalist that's good to know.

Other than that... here's looking at you kid.

Argiope aurantia

While walking near my large compost pile by the side of the house (where we place most of our leaves, grass clippings, and other lawn refuse as compared to the smaller bin for kitchen stuff and newspaper), I nearly ran into this beauty:

(Wow, that sounded Steve Irwin-y)

I'm not really squeamish about spiders, just a wee bit nervous about getting bitten, and my past knowledge has led me to believe that the smaller, less colorful innocuous ones are the ones you should worry about more (eg. brown recluse).

This particular spider was HUGE. It was web was at least 2 feet in diameter and was 2 inches from front leg to back leg tip.

Going under the assumption that this was a typical garden spider I easily came upon it on wikipedia: Argiope aurantia. Or simply a Golden Orb Weaver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_aurantia

The dense zigzag in the middle of the web is hypothesized to be a stabilizer of sorts for the spider to reside in while it waits for its prey or it meant to hide the spider from flying insects.

Another cool thing is that it eats its web every morning potentially to recycle silk spinning materials and eat any tiny insects it might have missed for nutrition.

I want a house I can eat! (No gingerbread jokes now!)


Though pretty common, but it's not often to see such a large specimen. Down here (ok, for many people) it seems like the mindset is to destroy every spider and snake visible, which is a huge pity. I am proponent of creating a balanced ecosystem and once everyone is settled and happy I am hoping that everything will go as clockwork, be balanced and etc unless great catastrophic weather events screw things up, or I manage to over neem somehow.

Sadly this spider, noting its bright coloration and size means that it is a female and will die in the winter, but with luck it will leave some babies behind to manage my future aggravations.

Testing, testing...

So, just curious to see if anyone is really reading this... gaining any insights or whatnot allow me quote Pink Floyd:

"Hello? Is there anybody out there?"

Just checking. Thanks.

Real updates later tonight.

Critters and delicious stuff

Just a quick picture post about all the cool stuff outside my window:

There's a praying mantis in this pic above that I didn't even notice until I loaded it!

I love the color of the eyes of this dragonfly! For some reason, dragonflies are often called the "Devil's steed." I don't get it.
the praying mantis again! Looks like she has a little design on her back.

I thought this was funny. Mantis wants a sneak attack! Maybe i can get a great video of them fighting, you'd be amazed!

The few, delicious raspberries that survived from my overzealousness from last year, added to creme brulee!

Random tame deer that has been wandering our park and doesn't understand the concept of danger until it gets eaten by wild dogs.

The seedlings! The seedlings!

No way! The seedlings are starting up!

All of them except the beetberry, but I'm not too worried because a) it's hasn't been that long since I planted them and b) it's known to take a notoriously long time to germinate

The kale, mustards and chards are no surprise to be making an appearance already with all of my diligent watering (for once) and the extra rain that's been going on. Oh, babies... so delicate, so much work... *sigh* just when I was appreciating my mature plants and all their fruit bearing-ness.

The trick now is to keep them nice and protected from EVERYTHING. Too much sun, critters, etc.

My plan, as I don't have any really thin floating row covers is to get some sticks, poke them in the ground and pop newspaper on top to shade them if needed, though the forecast is looking like it won't get to even the mid-90s, so perhaps it won't be necessary.

I might not even have to water at all for nearly a week if the forecast is correct, with rain next week too.

Less work=good (Hurrah!)

In terms of the critters, that's the tough stuff. I and REALLY gung-ho on critter prevention as I've had some ridiculous swallowtail butterfly caterpillar "infestations" and flea beetles and slugs lately, so alas, I have been spraying (gentle spraying) of neem oil dilution all around my plants as a notice for the bugs to "BACK AWAY."

I haven't been this excited about my plants coming up in a while. This fall, I just have some INTERESTING things planted, perennial vegetables such as mache, chard and beetberry and pretty japanese mustards and such have just gotten me super impatient to see them.

I can't wait until the bumper crop of tomatoes finish up so I can yank them and plant my other stuff:
Here is a map of my plan for fall/what I currently have going on in the garden (click on pic to see the plans clearly, and note, this is definitely not to scale):

Birds and the bees...

This post is sort of a self congratulatory pat on my back, not entirely out of ego, but because I am thrilled to have attracted so much cool stuff to my garden: birds, squirrels/chipmunks (not always good to have around, but fun to watch and entertain the dog with), various bees, hummingbirds, assassin bugs, praying mantises, tree frogs, toads and even snakes are all cool!

Most of the work done to attract all of this wildlife was through happenstance and some actual hard work on my end (do you have any idea how many toads I carried back to my garden?)


Quite a few of the birds that have flocked to my garden (which reminds me, I need to built birdhouses for) came due to prodigious amounts of seed I left out which also attracted squirrels/chipmunks (unfortunately who were then attracted to my attic... another story for another time). The birds have further stayed and produced bird babies all around who feed their way on an accidental wild woodland strawberry groundcover I acquired from a plant trading section. I didn't even know I picked up some of the plant, but it covers nearly all of a helpful location i was tired of mulching.

Forgotten overturned pots and large flat rocks provided safe spots and nooks and crannies for toads who have in turn attracted snake(s) who hopefully will rid me of some chipmunks :)
The chipmunks too have been helpful though by planting all these sunflower seeds that had been for the birds and I always have a sunflower somewhere, which makes MORE sunflowers to attract the seed eaters.

Even my accidental spots of standing water, terrible mosquito breeding grounds I know, but the dragonflies near the lake have popped on by to make themselves at home here too.

It's all pretty remarkable and makes you want to sing the "Circle of Life," huh?

Actually that might be a little too saccharin even for me and that was my college graduation song. Made me feel like I was preparing to get eaten by a lion. Thanks for preparing me for life Purdue!

All in all, this is just a post about me blathering on about how happy I am that I'm not the only one enjoying my garden. Now if only I could make the squash vine borers not enjoy it.