On the Brink of Summer
Officially, summer is a couple of weeks off. But, here in the South, summer type weather began a few weeks back. We have been experiencing temperatures in the high 90's, high humidity and no rain. These are trying times. Watering, watering, watering!
To top it off I have discovered the Japanese Beetle has descended upon my garden. Their favorite dining is on my roses and crape myrtle.
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| The Unwelcome Japanese Beetle |
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| The Welcomed Bee |
My roses are on the brink of their second flush of blooming.
I went outside anticipating some of them to have opened to find them looking like this.
There's not much you can do - I don't like the bags - it draws them - I have tried a systemic product - doesn't seem to repel them. So, early in the mornings, I take a plastic container filled with soapy water. I check my blooms - attempt to tap the beetle into the soapy water - with some success. Not only are they damaging as adults - they are damaging as larvae - there are products to address that too. This doesn't last forever, but it is one of those seasonal things we endure - do you have them in your garden?
Some Happy Blooms
On a lighter note -
I seem to have an abundance of birds - Bluejays, Cardinals, Chickadees, Mockingbirds, Woodpeckers, House Wrens and what they call Cow Birds. Cheep, cheep, cheeping away in my garden. It is something to me that the Bluejay doesn't have a pretty song. -
I'll have to spend some very patient time getting pictures - there's a family of
Bluejays in this tree - keeping very quiet while I'm near!
Also,
I was on my own last night and as dusk began to fall, I wanted to illuminate the night.
My camera is a point and shoot -so the results are not as great as I'd like -
but, it was fun and enchanting.
How are things in your garden this first week of June?
I truly enjoy visiting seeing the beauty and the difference in our gardens.
I am sharing this post with:
An Oregon Cottage's Tuesday Garden Party
A Southern Daydreamer's Outdoor Wednesday
Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday
Ms Green "thumb" Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday
Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday
Wishing you a very Delightsome day,
The lights you have make it look magical! Lovely! ♥ I love June! ♥
ReplyDeleteYour garden is farther along than mine (which I am posting about in a few minutes for tomorrow) as we are just having some lovely summery weather here finally. I like the lighted garden statues at night. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteKathy, I am so sorry about those nasty beetles and what they've done to your roses! My double knockout roses are having a good year and my wildflowers are starting to have color - we're further north in New Jersey. I remember the early floral season when I lived in Charleston for four years. Never saw azaleas so big - and so early - March, I think. That was just crazy for this Jersey girl. Hope you get those beetles under control. My own gardening posts coming soon. Joy!
ReplyDeleteBAD, BAD, beatles...
ReplyDeleteMy peonies are blooming and soon my 3rd and 4th generation rose bushes will be blooming.
It's very hot & humid here..102 today!!
Deb
How beautiful! I LOVE all the lights in your garden. It is just beautiful! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and I am so sorry about your roses. It is so nice to meet you. I am just getting around and look forward looking at your blogs.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
-Mary
Oh what lousy bugs! Such anticipation of beauty and then - blech! I love what you did with your night pictures. So lovely! At least that stinkin' bug can't ruin your romantic lights.
ReplyDeleteAmazing is the word for your garden!
ReplyDeleteSorry to read about the beetles. The rest of your garden looks so lovely though. If I come across a method for getting rid of the beetles I will pass it along.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
You have a beautiful garden in daylight and at night! I don't have beetles, but i do have bunnies. I yell at them. Hmm. I think I need a better plan! I did put a little fence around my morning glories, and I've sprayed water with cayenne pepper. It does seem God gives us glorious glimpses of beauty, but there are reminders we're still on planet Earth.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI love those pictures at night that you took, simply gorgeous!
Have a lovely day!
XXXX Ido
thanks for letting me wander thru your garden! lovely!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy. Visiting via Jean's BT. Love your gardens and blooms your sharing. Especially love your night time snaps. Wish I could see it in person - I bet it's breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Carla
The fountain is so pretty at night!
ReplyDeleteciao!
Loving that tinkerbell lighting...so pretty how it lights up at night time! thanks for sharing over Cottage Flora Thursday's....you've inspired me to look for some kind of lighting for my outdoor arbor - oxox, tracie
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Bloomin' Tuesday! So sorry about the damage. I don't like to but I put grubx on the lawn in the spring and it does seem to control the beetles they begin as grubs. Love your bird baths and the brick area with spaces for plants! Jean
ReplyDelete