Mostly in the three days following Thanksgiving, I have done little to nothing, mostly we've been binge watching the two seasons of Troppo. Friday I dug up my poor whitefly infested camellia that I have tried in vain over the years to rid of the pest. It is stunted, not really growing and hasn’t bloomed in the last two years and the year before I got one flower. I have used insecticidal soap to no effect, then tried another stronger insecticide but still on the ‘safe’ side and nope. Clearly it does not like where it’s planted. So I dug it up, put it in a pot with good dirt, gave it some fertilizer, and rubbed the back of every single leaf with my thumb and next plan to do Steve Reed’s trick with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab.
The next day I dug up the japanese azalea from the same bed which, while it hasn’t died like the first one, looks to be barely hanging on. It also does not grow or bloom. It’s now also in a pot with good dirt and fertilized. Both these plants were terribly root bound when I bought them three and four years ago and despite having basically bare rooted them and spread out the roots and put them in the ground, they have failed to prosper. So I’m hoping they’ll recover and grow in pots where they’ll get more attention.
Sunday I finally transferred the growing pile of fallen branches, continued damage from hurricane Beryl, things that broke and died but did not fall, to the back of the truck to move over to the burn pile, something I had refrained from doing because I want to take all the metal to the scrap yard, the aluminum and steel cans and other scrap, about 6 tubs worth, but it just hasn’t happened. Then I hammered nails in the studs in the barn as high up as I could reach and hung the tomato cages to get them off the floor and out of the way and used the leaf blower to clear the garage, barn, and concrete apron part of the driveway. And Minnie finally got a long walk, her first of last week I think.
Now the holiday weekend is over and I need to get back in motion. It’s been getting down in the 40s all last week and overcast, only warming up to the 50s but today is sunny and supposed to get up to 70. I’ve been out doing some much needed watering. Three winter bloomers are still blooming.
I had to go back to work today - rude! As is the weather right now (35 degrees at 7:00 and some snow flurries expected overnight). I'm having to pull out things I wore in Ohio. Very annoying. On the other hand, last year was so mild that I worried I would never wear any of my yarny stuff again. Ha!
ReplyDeletewe finally finished the second season of Troppo last night so I have no excuse now for sitting on my butt. the weather is cold but not freezing and overcast with rain predicted all week so time to get started on that drawing for my brother.
DeleteYes, back to reality.
ReplyDeleteI'm still ignoring the reality of the news. just don't want to entertain what I cannot stop.
DeleteTo be honest, I'm rather glad to be back to work and back to some of my routines -- especially in the food department. All the goodies were good as could be, but calorie and sugar laden does me no good. Your shrimp plants look great. I made a quick trip to Brazoria this weekend, and they were about the only thing still blooming in the butterfly garden there. I was surprised to see lantana all along the county road leading to the refuge: lots and lots of it. I've never seen it there before.
ReplyDeletemy lantana has gone by, just mostly dead sticks now. since I don't do christmas, having a lot of sweets around won't be a problem.
DeleteIn the US you seem to slide from Thanksgiving right into Christmas and when it’s all over it must be good to get a break from merry-making and overeating.
ReplyDeletefor most people I guess, not for me. I don't do religion and I specifically re - and de - nounced christianity in my early 20s. no decorating, no baking, no required gift giving or receiving, no stress. Thanksgiving is the only holiday we participate in because it has nothing to do with any religion, just about being thankful, grateful for the good things in your life and sharing a meal with family and friends. while you can ascribe the things you are grateful for as being bestowed by a god, it's not required.
DeleteBeen cold here. I call it cold, anyway. I need to get off my ass and into the yard for sure. Everything needs trimming back and clearing. Good for you for getting on it, Ellen.
ReplyDeleteyes, cold here but not as cold you where you are oddly enough. we usually get weather a few days before you do. rain predicted all week so probably won't get much done outside. coldish, windy and overcast today.
DeleteIt's been so cold here. No more yard work for us! (not that I do that much anyway)
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about Christmas as it will be here before we know it. My Texas group (6 of them!!) is coming to stay in my home for a week at Christmas so I have to be ready for that!
I hope you enjoy the visit. they'll get a reminder of what winter is really like.
DeleteYou still have plants in bloom, count your blessings. And so nice to look at!
ReplyDeleteOne night of frost has killed almost all here, only two sturdy rose hip plants are holding out, one blossm each.
My go to recipe for all types of green/white/black fly is carbolic soap diluted to a very frothy watery gunge in a wide open bucket - just grate the soap into the water and beat and stir the lot or use liquid carbolic soap. I actually bend and dip leaves and stems and whatever plant parts are affected into the bucket as much as possible and let the foam dry on the plant itself. I've done this for decades and it always works, the plants don't get damaged. I use at least a 3 parts soap to 1 part water solution. I get the soap liquid from our whole food shop, not the stuff with coloring and/or petroleum added.
we haven't had a frost yet which is why they are still blooming. the last four years or so everything was dead by now. I've never heard of carbolic soap. I had to look it up. if my current attempt doesn't get rid of the whitefly I'll have to try it.
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