This is the first year for these to bloom in my garden and they're gorgeous! I do have one problem, these little bitty brown bugs on them. Any ideas what they are and how to get rid of them organically? I'll post a couple of different pics of them for you.
Here's a beautiful flower (minus the bugs)
Here are the bugs.
Another bug pic.
Last one taken a few days ago.
Stephanie, I can't really tell for sure, but they look like aphids.
You can make a spray with 1 tablespoon if dishwashing liquid to a quart of water and spray them with that. Even if they are not aphids it won't hurt, but be sure you apply it when the sun is not shining on the plants.
The flowers are beautiful, mine are blooming too, and i love them also.
Josephine.
I think I read Columbines are susceptible to aphids and something else. I cant remember though. I just started buying Columbines and love the unique blooms.
Stephanie, what type is your yellow Columbine??
I don't think they're aphids. I'm VERY familiar with aphids and these don't look like them. They're bigger than aphids and are brown. I'll try to get some better pics.
These are Texas Gold columbines.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60182/
Stephanie, how long have you had your columbines? By the time they are in the nurseries here, they are already in full bloom, so I'm not that crazy about buying something that will be out of bloom that quickly. I like to watch them grow, set buds, yada, yada, yada, ya' know? :)
I'm wondering if I should plant some for next year and how they'd do around here? What happens to them during the summer heat?
I have many Texas Gold columbines. I am not very good about deadheading, so I usually get seeds. In the summer, when they start to look a little rough, I cut the tops back and shake the seeds in any part of the garden where I want some more columbines. They seem to be hardier when they come up from seed and able to stand more sun than the transplants. The plants I have trimmed back put on fresh leaves and look good then through the fall and winter. Hope you enjoy yours for many more years.
Jo, we planted these last spring, after blooming season. I've been anxiously awaiting their show this year and I haven't been disappointed! I have them planted on the north side of my house in an area that gets almost total dappled shade from the huge oak tree in our yard. There's one close to the end on the right hand side that gets the grueling late day western sun and it almost died last year. (I need to plant something on the end to help shade it, but I have no idea what!)
Down in your neck of the woods, I'm not sure how they'd do. If you planted them in a heavily shaded area, they'd probably do well.
Here's a pic of them in my front yard.
