Jmorth, love your photos. I have quite a few wildflowers I've ''rescued."
Bergamot, Blue Lobelia and Cardinal Flower, Canada Tick Trefoil, Cup Plant, Golden Fumewort, Golden Rod, Jack In The Pulpit, Jewelweed, Monkey Flower, Ragwort, Sweet Rocket, Tall American Bellflower, Tansy. Vervain, Wild Blue Phlox and Wood Sage.
Myriam, thanks, I didn't realize how many wild plants I had till I went looking for them. I'm trying to support the butterflies and bees :o) Some years there are a lot and this year they were scarce.
It was also a poor year over here for butterflies, Sally, I'm not sure what caused it, maybe the horrible more than usual harsh and long winter was not any good for the caterpillars..
I also have a lot of wild plants integrated in my small garden and that does pay off even in a town garden, I really do get a lot of species bees, hoverflies etc..
We had a cold wet prolonged spring and windy days. Not good for either of them. Then it got really hot and dry. I only burn the iris clippings because I'm afraid I'll burn a cocoon. Last year was a really good year.
I worked on getting a row of phlox back in the sun in one bed and hope next year I see them fluttering all over.
Laughing, the hover flies about drove me crazy this year. Every time I sat down I felt at least 5 thwocking all over my legs. It tickled to the point of madness, LOL!!
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Ann, hoverflies are flies that hover..
like this one for example..they are very beneficial for any garden, their larvae eat Aphids! They are a natural pest control!
So they don't bite people? Anything that eats aphids is A Okay in my book! Now, what eats whiteflies? Every single time I plant tomato seeds the darn plants get whiteflies. That didn't happen years ago --- only in the past 6 or 8 yrs.
Thanks Myriam for the explanation. Funny, I never imagined Belgium would be zone 8a. Almost the same as I am yet you're a far more northern latitude.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
No Ann, hoverflies don't bite, they are sweet little winged creatures, as adults they are important for the pollination, they only live from pollen of flowers.
Whiteflies have many natural enemies like spiders, ladybeetles, lacewings etc.. using pesticides also kills the natural enemies. A garden maintained without these nasties soon reaches a natural balance and rarely has pest problems..I wouldn't know why you have these pests only since the last 6-8 years, maybe the spot you grow them attracts them, is the air not too dry maybe you grow your tomatoes in a greenhouse. I only (sometimes) have whitefly problem when I grow up seedlings inside the house, usually they disappear soon once I bring them outside where the air is more humid.They love dry and hot conditions..
Cubits has a very interesting cubit owned by JRsBugs who is very knowledgeble about insects and passionate to know all about the creatures in her garden..anyone is welcomed.. http://cubits.org/buglife/
Ann, we had an infestation of white flies one year, many many years ago, but I don't remember the weather. It might have been late summer because I seem to remember that by then, they wouldn't hurt much. But they were on any leaf you bumped. We haven't had them like that since. I hope you find out why they are at your place. That's a bummer!
Laughing, nope, Hoverflies don't bite, but they sure like to taste you.
Sorry, I forgot you guys don't know.... we moved this year. Had whiteflies on the tomatoes every time I got some or planted seeds. Tomatoes only. No matter the season or weather. It's very humid down there.
Moved up here (2 zones north) & low humidity here.
Got some tomato seeds, planted them, & yep, you guessed it --- whiteflies.
Nature's cycles --- must be the years of whiteflies on tomatoes in the deep south of the U.S. This too shall pass.
Oh, I know what hoverflies are now. I had not heard them called that. A generic term for all those who do that. I thought you guys were talking about something specific. Like black flies. I have heard of them but have never encountered them. I understand they have a nasty bite which draws blood & can be a real pain in the *&%#.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
w/ bee
lot of this stuff going on
w/ thistle
the track
I love wildflowers!
