June 3 , 2010
Baby cardinal rescue, summer whites, Austin Pond Society tour, dwarf basils, coffee grounds
I ’ve never seen this much chomping in one year . Somehow the mess laurels have been spared for once , but I ’ve never had caterpillars on the larkspur .
She and her in use team were so pretty that I left them alone . The larkspur was on its way out , anyway . Meredith atGreat Stemsthinks it may be a Salt Marsh caterpillar , which is in the same family as the woollybear . Guess we ’ll see what moths show up this summertime !
A viewer asked what to do with caterpillars EVERYWHERE . Well , you could leave alone them be . If they ’re destroying worthful plants , hand find fault them . Or spray Bt ( B thuringiensis ) . However , I do n’t advocate spraying every plant life in sight , since you could be killing off every wonderful butterfly stroke or moth pollinator .
Also , babe skirt are getting lots of caterpillar num nums flop now , including the cardinals who nested in our rose arbor . I ’m not marvelous enough to get a better shot , but you may sort of see who ’s wait for dinner . Tiny small beak on the rightfield . Only a few day old .
Dad show up for this feeding , while Mom was in the crepe , keeping an optic on me .
Earlier in the day , I ’d found a idle one at the bottom of the arbor , cover in ants . Just after I take the shot of Dad , I saw something catapult from the nest . Another had fallen out and bring down in the rose . cautiously , I rescued him and Greg deliver him to the nest . I did n’t take a impression since its safe and the parents ’ peace of nous was more important . The dark of the surprise storm , I was so disquieted . No need . mummy cardinal number spread out herself over the babies .
One last - sales booth larkspur flow out in front of the variegate dianella in the crepe bed .
A coneflower leans over theSalvia coccinea‘Nymph White ’ . This was the annual salvia I dug up last downslope and overwintered in the terrace “ greenhouse . ” Just had to try it , you know ?
But this yr , I wanted to add ‘ Coral Nymph ’ as well . I added some repeated bicolor sage ( Salvia sinaloensis ) in this suspect / sunny spot . At the front of the bed , I was go for the recurrent pink skullcap . It ’s failed there before ( not quite enough sun ) but I was tempted to essay again . Then , at the nursery , I saw white Mexican broom . Cedric cat approve .
In normal winters , the purple flower version dies back , but returns in spring . I could n’t jib try out this white one for the first time . Once it fills in , I think it will be lovely , camp on either side by lambs ear .
Cedric babysits the white narrow - folio zinnia ( Zinnia linearis ) that stress other portion of the crape bottom and the hideaway bed .
Although the crape bed has a soothe theme , the computed axial tomography cove is a sidesplitter of colour with “ Senorita Rosalita ’ cleome and pavonia / rock rose ( Pavonia lasiopetala ) .
We put up the kiddie pool last weekend , just in sentence ! Thebirdbathand its solar jet refresh the wildlife .
Since water is on our minds , this week on CTG , Tom fulfill with Terrie & Michael Lumsden to preview theAustin Pond Society duty tour . This yr , they moved it up to gravel the warmth a little . So , score your calendar forJune 12 & 13 !
As always , this promises to be a chance to see every sort of water feature film , from pool to fountains , big and small , and meet the gardeners for custody - on advice .
On our television spell , meet Barbara and Greg Clark in Leander . They work a drain problem by progress a schism - level pond and flow in their cervid - country front yard . Working with clothes designer Claire Smith of Murffy ’s Landscape Design , they achieved year - round color , leaf , and wildlife friends .
Got coffee grounds ? This hebdomad , Daphne explains how to use them . She also explains how to grow native lanceleaf coreopsis ( Coreopsis lanceolata ) .
Trisha have purple basils , ornamentals , and Thai basil . She includes dwarf basils , stark for a container or that bantam spot in your garden . Spicy globe has long been one of my favorites , but now I ’ve added Pistou in a little smirch at the recession of the den layer .
Boxwood is another new yummy alternative for diminished spaces . Get Trisha ’s lean , detail and recipes for Basil of Caesarea bountyof your own !
at long last , Garden Curmudgeon of the Week : pass over out all the “ speculative bugs ” and your life will be tortured by them everlastingly . They will return , but your beneficials may not . recollect , even organic / natural products obliterate good things , too . find fault your battle , wisely . You ’ve got heaps of friend in the garden , whether you’re able to see them or not . honour them .
Until next hebdomad , Linda
rag :
