The flowers are flowering like crazy, and the bugs are as well. I am spending every morning and afternoon squishing green caterpillars between my fingers that are devouring my flowering cabbages and kales. A lovely way to start and end my day don’t you think? The are the larvae of the cabbage moths, and they seem to think that the flowering cabbages and kales are much sweeter than the ones in the vegetable garden because those plants, much to Steves dismay I am sure, are look good. These, well, we will see what an interesting shape they will have when the weather starts to get cooler. I am tempted to let the guinea hens in there to see if they will eat the larvae but I think that is really asking for trouble. I wouldn’t have a garden left, forget the bugs. That and the Japanese beetles have found the zinnias.
On the good news side, the scabiosa is just about getting ready to pick, the asters are looking good and the dahlias are starting to flower. Woo hoo! Every week is exciting and different which is good for you, and excellent for me. Oh! and most important, the lisianthus and dianthus are starting. Not tons, but boy are those lisianthus exquisite.
So here is a little bit of info for the dirty flowers, one of them is the zinnias. They are known as dirty flowers because they turn the water skanky. Other dirty flowers I grow that you should know about are the rudbeckia or black eyed susans, yarrow, chrysanthemums and kale. Pee yoo. To remedy this, add a couple drops of bleach to the flower water every time you change the water, which should be every couple of days. I know, it can be a pain to do when we are so busy, but it is soooo worth it.
So there you have it. The story of another exciting week at Lottarock Farm. ‘Til next time, Allie