What's Growing - Part 9!!

Al,
The pale pink w/the darker pink behind it and the peach one are Portulaca (moss rose).
I too go look at the Cosmo's for the same reason.

Al don't send me any hostas. I've been in a long drag out on the hosta forum about how to clean up a hosta bed. G'Lord they are serious about the HVX over there. Sorry I know I'm stomping on toes. I just wasn't in the mood to be so serious, even tho I am serius about the HVX some of the time. The rest of the time I would just as soon tear out the hosta and plant something else. Heresy I'm sure.

You can stomp on my toes I don't care ;)
I have a mixed shade bed, I have been moving hostas out to the terrace. So far they have held up to the winter salt.

Pixie - upper left wins that one.

Had another visitor on your sedum today

Al, I think the butterfly you posted yesterday is really a Skipper.
My Sedum also have a nice variety if visitors. I have a smart Mantis that sits on one and waits. I snapped this Mud-dauber Tuesday.
Andy P

Nice pic Andy. Those things love me because I always have mud for them.
Yes a skipper was my closest guess. Is a skipper not a butterfly?
You have all the manti - never seen one here. I've got bees , and more bees.

Alyrics, That was pretty funny about Lowe's. What is HVX? I hate to miss out on a good controversy!

I don't think I have ever seen a mud-dauber. Al, They don't have praying mantis in WI?

Alyrics, That was pretty funny about Lowe's. What is HVX? I hate to miss out on a good controversy!

I don't think I have ever seen a mud-dauber. Al, They don't have praying mantis in WI?
While on the subject of bugs, here is one of my friend's websites. Its on moths. He now has a book out. Pretty cool and very under-appreciated (moths, that is) http://www.booksandnature.homestead.com/NewCTMoth.html

Dave, thanks for the link. I'm very interested in moths. Took a pic of a cute one in the driveway the other day. Have a good butterfly book, but need something on moths. I just added your friend's book to my wish list at amazon so I'll remember to get it next time I place an order. I like things I can do in my own back yard :0)...staying up at night could be a problem though LOL

gram

The dogs fenced in area has been transformed into a Morning Glory oasis. Please excuse the lawn..mowed the North side of the land yesterday...have to do the south side today!

someone said something about mushrooms a few post back, didn't think much of it at the time. I guess I just wasn't watching where I was walking up until today!

Those are great pixie!!! I love them!

HVX is Hosta Virus X - discovered in 1993, its become a problem in some hosta varieties. The problem is it can lie dormant for several years before it starts to show and even during the dormant period the plant sap is contagious to other hosta - can infect them.

Pixie - big 'ole shaggy is interesting there.

Dave - there are some nice moths pics there. I'm sure there are mantises in WI I just haven't seen one in a long time. The mud bees nest everywhere - there are some old ones in my attic.

almost got an interesting pic out in the wind today

Al, I'm not sure if a Skipper is a butterfly or a moth or something else.
Look in your Daylilies for the Mantis, most of mine can be found there. Good camouflage?
Dave, those mud-daubers are BIG. That one was at least 2 inches long, the wings flap when it walks and it's fast.
Pixie, those mushrooms are cool, especially the big hairy one, lol.
Andy P

Skippers are butterflies (no knowledge here, I just have a book)

Al, neat pic of the grasses in the wind

Pixie, the big mushroom looks like it was crocheted. i have different colored ones, but nothing as cool as that ;0)

alyrics, are there hosta varieties we should avoid? are the reputable hosta growers avoiding the ones with the virus?

I went to the Hosta Library at http://www.hostalibrary.org/firstlook/HVXTable.htm
and they have a table listing cultivars that were known to be susceptible, and some that are thought to be resistant. It does apparently kill some plants in the bitter end - here's some pics from the same website. http://www.hostalibrary.org/firstlook/HVX.htm

So I've been looking down at my butterfly weed all summer and wonder why these boxelder bugs would be on it so much, since I don't have any boxelders around. It turns out this is milkplant bug. Similar huh.

Did I ever post what my Old Mexico zinnias look like when they fade and lose their color.

Really pretty Al...I like the tips of the petals.
Did you know spinach has cute little yellow flowers if you don't pick it soon enough? While traveling up to my Brothers for the last couple weeks I have neglected my garden duties and things do NOT look the same! What a mess!!!! But I did learn that spinach has cute little flowers LOL.
Here they are:

Al, A few years ago I had a serious infestation of those Boxelder or Milkplant bugs. They looked like yours. I literally had swarms of them crawling over my fruit patch. It took 3 years to get rid of them. Disgusting creatures.
Andy P

I forgot to add a pic, lol.
My Sedum Matrona without any big bugs on it.
Andy P

Andy,
Your Sedum is a big lovely clump!! I have 2 small piece about 8-10" high. How long have you had that one?

Great pics everyone - I thought I'd take a few. It's been awhile since I had.

Anita, that's beautiful! good thing you don't do that every day. it's a work of art...put the rest of us to shame ;-)

Anita you absolutely have to enter that collage in some contests - it is just stunning!
Andrea

Pixie, That plant is on it's third Summer. I got it as a few cuttings, they rooted fast in a pot. Two months later they were in the ground.
Anita, that's your best collage so far. Super.
Andy P

Great picture Anita... what do you use for this collage???


Not as pretty as yours but look what is growing among my mini roses!!!!

Nice job Anita! Looks like the bee has his midnight snack ready!

Andy, how long did it take for that sedum to be that big???

I just planted one 2 weeks ago.....

I think it takes 3 weeks ;)


Very nice collage Anita, I feel bad for that ladybug.

Kassia, the plant is on it's third Summer. By the way, that Matrona was salvaged from a compost pile, lol.
I shot this Autumn Joy today, also on it's third Summer. It's a cluster of 3 plants.
If you look closely, you can see my Sedum loving Mantis.
Andy P

Alright Andy - I'm finally on to you, you have this plastic praying mantis that you pose in all your photos don't you.

Caught Me ! ! ! !

Ah HA!

I had this killer whale on my Autumn Joy today

I think I love you, Al!

I don't even know the acronym but I am laughing out loud. Good one Al

LOL!!! We should make this a comedy series!

Just trying to bring things down to my level where I have an advantage ;)


Wish I had plastic army men.

I've got a Barbie

Thanks Andy,
I just got a sedum from my friend Laurawege today... hers are also so gorgeous...

I also got the one that is very floppy... but it has a gorgeous purple/burgundy color...

Al, Please, get willie back in the water... he will get dehidrated!!!!