I love my Cannas. They have a long blooming season and add a great upright stand of color or texture to areas of my yard. But each year i see the tattle tail holes forming and want to dust them to keep them pretty. But I am afraid I will hurt one of the beneficial insects like lady bugs.
Insomnia and Gardening, Moon Garden?
....you're right....you're right.....you're right. And yes, I pick the hornworms off. There's a chameleon a few blocks down that deserves a gourmet meal once in awhile. I'm going to pickle the stinkbugs tomorrow (hahahahaha!)....maybe?
Sticks, the fatigue can be overwhelming. I'm sorry to hear that you're having to go through all of those tests....no fun at all. My daughter had neo-natal lupus at birth ad there were lots of complications during the pregnancy. She's a healthy 11 year old now, thank goodness. Did you know it is genetic? She doesn't actually have Lupus but it crossed the placenta and it caused her to have three heart murmurs. We're blessed that she didn't have a heart block. the murmurs are down to one and we're hoping she will outgrow it. Several of my family members have been recently diagnosed.
LOL
Sheila. I have never know a ladybug to eat a canna leaf roller. They're over on the plants with aphids, having a feast! And - Bt is toxic only to caterpillars, it won't hurt any of the beneficials, including ladybugs. Just don't use the Bt on your butterfly plants. And Cannas are not butterfly plants.
knolan,
I am really sorry to hear about your heath problems. I have a firend who suffers (and she really suffers) from Sjogrens. I had never heard of it before. And another with CFS. I am glad yours is under control now. I learn so much on DG. Not only about plants..... My aches and pains are so very miniscule...
CJ
Thanks CJ,
I had never heard of Sjogren's before either until I was dianosed with a simple blood test. Believe it or not (and I'm blessed) I've never experienced the major symptoms of it. I can actually wear contacts and my dr.'s are stunned.
I deal with arthritis and high blood pressure (only 37) but with diet and exercise and lot's of happy thoughts I can't complain. I feel as you....my aches and pains are miniscule.
I'm a true believer in positive thinking. If I've learned anything from the whole experience it would be to enjoy every single moment. If I stay up too late talking on the computer (my husband calls it "plant porn") or meandering through my garden.....so be it. It's fun!
Kristi
LOL Plant porn. I love it! Positive thinking is what keeps my old back going. Can't stop or it will lay me low! I am surprised you can wear contacts, too!! That is great!!
Back on topic.
I have a book written by Scott Ogden, who also wrote Garden Bulbs for the South. He lives (or lived?) in Texas - the hill country. It is "The Moonlit Garden". Has some wonderful ideas in it that includes fragrance for the night too.
Just glancing through - white cleome, the lavenders (I grow Spanish, all the others crash on me), dusty miller, artemisia (I grow Powis Castle), chocolate eupatorium (has white fluffy flowers that stand out from its very dark leaves, blooming now), silvery grasses, even aztec grass clumps, confederate jasmine, night jessamine (Cestrum nocturnum), white spider lilies, I have epiphyllum strictum (so-called night blooming cereus, but isn't) and would be happy to send you a cutting, white rainlilies, butterfly ginger in white - some of his thoughts and mine intermingled...
oooohhh.....would love a cutting. Sounds like a great book. I'm going to have to look for it. Spring and summertime...i'm into my plants but I hunker down during the winter with books and needlework.
CJ....how on earth do you know all of this stuff? As much as I read, my mind still doesn't retain more than a third of it. And your garden looks absolutely gorgeous!
Meant to include, I desperately want to start a ginger collection. I have some really shaded areas and think they would perform superbly. I'll go and take a picture really quick of the area and see if it turns out to post (might be too dark but occassionally I can get a good shot). Any advice is MOST welcome.
Pics are too dark ...I'll take some in the morning. I have a few logistical problems to contend with.....1) both the north and west side of my house are easements and that's where the shade is and 2) big old electrical pole in the front yard 3) ugly dead end sign at the end of the street (I might have that one figured out but am still open for suggestions).
What can I say......I'd like to but a new house but there's so much sentimental value here. I bought this place when I was 23.
CJ, What is Bt??
Sheila,
Bt is Bacillus thuringiensis. Hope I spelled that correctly! It is a bacteria that affects only caterpillars. They eat it, and the bacteria in their gut makes them terminally sick. Birds can eat these caterpillars and it will not harm them. Green Light Bio Worm Killer is one brand. Another is Thuricide. The powder is Dipel.
Since I am a big fan of beneficials, and birds, this is my number one defense against the bad caterpillars.
Thanks CJ, I will have to try that. My cannas are just starting to bloom and looking so grand now.
What other plants besides cannas do you recommend I use Bt on?
This message was edited Jun 3, 2006 3:58 PM
There are actually several different strains of Bt. Bt is effective on any caterpillars that are munching your plants. I can't think of a plant you can't use it on. Its quite safe, but they have to eat it. Mosquito Dunks are also a strain of Bt but they kill mosquito larvae in standing water, like birdbaths, big dog water bowls (like mine!), ponds, whatever. Bt is a pretty good, safe insecticide.
BTW, Mosquito Dunks are sold as that. They also have mosquito bits, a new product I haven't tried yet.
The brand names I mentioned are all Bt kurstaki - for caterpillars only. Yes, there are other variations as dogmansis mentioned. I just didn't go into them because we were talking about canna leaf rollers - which are caterpillars.
The others are :
Bacillus thuringiensis
var. tenebrionis - Colorado potato beetle and elm leaf beetle larvae
var. kurstaki - caterpillars
var. israelensis - mosquito, black fly, and fungus gnat larvae
var. aizawai - wax moth larvae and various caterpillars, especially the diamondback moth caterpillar
I use the Mosquito Dunks (Bt var. israelensis)also. They are great for the water that gathers in outside drains, and also for fungus gnats in house plants.
CJ
This message was edited Jun 3, 2006 9:19 PM
I will recommend the Mosquito Dunks as have used them for a few years in the rain barrels. And it won't hurt to water plants with that water.
Thanks to all! My DH made a run to HD today and I had him pick up some liquid Bt. I will only use it on the Cannas for now.
Had a dinner party tonight and am posting late. CJ...I trust your methods implicity. But I worry about killing anything with chemicals because of the adverse reaction to the beneficials. And what we end up eating. As of today, I'm still only smushing bugs (and power squirting) and think I'll keep going that direction.
Also, Oyster Creek runs along side of us and the fish kills in the the past make me wary. Garden run-off is a big culprit. We've had MANY fish kills over the last 25 years. Algae bloom and low oxygen levels. I'll keep stomping and mushing before I apply Bt, even if only used in the cannas. In my own humble opinion, growing cannas and keeping them healthy are just not worth the environmental damage. Pesticides, in any form, are just not in my happy hemisphere, regardless of the pretty fruit and flowers
knolan - Bt has no adverse reactions to the beneficials. Or to humans. None. Nada. Zilch. Look it up. Read about it. It occurs naturally in nature. It is even "organic". Tada!
CJ
This message was edited Jun 4, 2006 8:06 PM
Cool......just read about it. Should have done that first.
I bought a twelve pack of Malibu solar lights at Lowes for $54 that I have been happy with. They don't give off a ton of candle power, but they would definitely make gardening at night safer and prettier. The reflection in a pool or some water is really nice.
If you want more light: I have been using the Malibu solar spot lights (give off more candle power) for two years now without problems.
The solar powered lights would be perfect for your situation in that they don't give off so much light to interfere with sleep/wake cycles. The lights are easy to install, cheap, don't run up the electricity bill, and the only maintenance is rechargable battery replacement. They do great in our bright Texas sun most of the year. The low light that they give off doesn't trick plants into thinking its daytime.
Best wishes on your health. If you haven't, talk with your rheumatologist or immunologist about insomnia and daytime sleepiness.
Wow! I like the lights idea. I have some low level solar lights (don't know what kind) in the front but, for some reason, it simply has not occurred to me to get more. Good idea!
Solar lights work well in the event of a power outage too. When Rita blew thru, many in our area were out of lights for extended time and many had house guests (evacuees) who were unfamiliar with our homes in the dark. Gathering up charged solar lights and scattering them thru the home made it safer and more comfortable. Simple to put them back outdoors to recharge during the day.