Scattelogical ramblings and desultory humor - Frostfree?

Haven't seen monarchs yet. Lots of hummers. Yes, Harper, a new lyme disease vaccine is very promising.

They come every day. I have seen like one brown Monarch and several yellow ones. I will get a pic if I can.

Sherrie ~
I believe that there is only one kind of Monarch butterfly. I may be totally wrong on this.

Here's a photo from a hatching that took place on August 13 2006.

This one is hanging from my granddaughter, Becky's, finger.
The photos are from the same day. If I remember correctly, three or four Monarchs hatched that day. It was fun, because we were enjoying a family birthday party at our house for Becky, Taelar, and Artie. The kids got quite a kick out of watching the Monarchs hatch.

Sweeeeet

We had one to release on sister day last year.

Isn't it the coolest thing, Deb? I love watching them hatch.

Cool!

i wonder what is laying the itty bitty yellow egg clusters i've been finding on the sides of leaves and pots. i scrape them off.

They are landscaping a new development around the corner from me. They created about 48 little hills between the sidewalk and the houses' properties. Every hill was landscaped a little different(I need to go take pics when no one is there) By the main entrance (about 3 days ago) they planted both sides with a ton of rhodies-2 things that went thru my mind-do they know how big they get? and they are going to be fried out in the open. sure enough they are now all shrivelled up. Guess they won't have to worry about how big they get.
A few more plantings are all brown already, sheesh,what a waste of $. The lanscapers are there today replacing them.

Typical.

How sad.
Didn't they consult a real, live gardening contractor for that stuff? Uh, obviously not!

Too cool!! Will monarchs lay eggs on any asclepias, or is there a specific one?

Beats me. Around here I think the milkweed is mainly Asclepias purpurascens. We always leave a 'stand' of them in the back yard so that the butterflies have some place to lay their eggs.

Here's a link to the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/81058/

Like I say, though, I am not entirely sure that this is the milkweed that grows as weeds around this part of New England. But it sure looks like it.

Candyce - that is the very same milkweed that we get all around our meadow. We also have a number of monarchs that frequent the milkweed.

I thought it might be, Louise.
Can you imagine that some people sell it?
We should go into business!!

Monarchs will eat all types of milkweed.

Got Milkweed??

You're in your usual good mood this morning, Victor.

Can't you just see him sitting there in his tie-dye and beads, pirl?

This could be a whimsical thread. I don't picture Victor that way. I see him in a golf shirt or a very crisp clean tee shirt.

Yes, I'm not the hippie type, though I am into flower power, dudes and dudettes...

It was your 'milk weed' comment that brought that picture to my mind, Victor. I meant no offense.

When I picture Victor I see crisp and clean, too. In the garden I picture him hauling river rock until he's ready to drop from exhaustion.

Of course no offense taken, Candyce!! Pirl, please don't mention river rock! Though it's more pushing, than hauling. They're small. Unfortunately, there are ten billion of them.

Seems like someone would want them, Victor. Have you asked on DG? Maybe someone (or several people) could come over and remove them for you.

It would take forever. The only real solution is to do what I'm doing - pushing into the bed and burying with mulch (and hopefully ground cover eventually).

Nite - nite everyone.
Looks like I need to get up early so that I can water the gardens.

Here's a question for you ...
Do you water in the morning or do you water in the evening? And why?

We have the system set to go on in the early morning. I don't know if it's true that night watering causes more problems but that's what I've always heard and wondered if night rains had the same effect.

I say prayers nightly that Mother Nature will do the watering. Too bad she doesn't listen very often .Then I revert to A.M. watering. P.M. watering can lead to mildew, blackspot and such things.

Pirl, we cross posted, but that is what I have always wondered about. Why is it okay for Mom to water at night but not us humans?

I water at any time.

It is better if the vegetative growth on your plants has the opportunity to dry out during the day. Less chance of fungus, mildews, molds, etc.. If you water at night, the water plus the evening dew, plus the cooler temps can equal the problems listed. Also, slugs and snails are more active at night and on wet soil and plants. If you are experience a drought and can contain the slugs and snails, a ground watering in late day is good because there will be less evaporation. As long as the leaves don't get wet or have time to dry off before dew.

Laurel

I think it's better for Mother Nature to water in the morning too. It's just that there is no controlling her. Mid-day watering loses a lot to evaporation but not when Mom does it because then it is cloudy.
But I would say this is optimal but not necessary.

Good morning, and thanks for weighing in on my question about watering.
I thought that morning watering was better because it controls the mildew
and there is less chance of chilling the plants. So, that's what I've always done.
DSIL, however, said that his buddy just waters whenever he feels like it, and
mostly in the evenings. I shuddered.

The process of the leaves drying after being exposed to water seems to be important to the function of the leaves.

The new mist propagation systems have a sensor, that allows the leaf to dry before starting a new cycle of mist. This seems to encourage root formation and healthy stems.

So, in addition to controlling mold and mildew, early morning watering followed by a period of getting the plant in a "well drained" phase where it is exposed to air will give you a healthier crop.

Thanks, Gloria. I now have a lot of 'ammunition' when I next speak to DSIL about the whole watering thing. Besides, if I get the watering done in the morning, it leaves the rest of the day free without the knowledge of that task looming over me!!

You (or a mechanical significant other) could install a timer and some leaky pipe and it would all be done automatically.

We still don't know why Mother Nature can rain at night and we don't hear of the great dangers about it when she does it.

There is much less of a chance of many problems if the plants have great air circulation, aren't crowded and are receiving the nutrients they need.

Morning is no doubt preferable, but you have to water when you have the opportunity. I think the night thing is just exaggerated. In really humid places like FL I would think it's more of a problem since the daytime humidity is always so high.