It would be a rough ride. I never saw shock absorbers on a cricket OR on a camel!

Weedwhacker said:I actually saw an owl grab a squirrel off the bird feeder one time...

That must have been very traumatic. Poor squirrel!

bwv998 said:

That must have been very traumatic. Poor squirrel!

Well, it was definitely shocking! And, I seem to be one of the few people here that actually enjoys the squirrels (and don't mind that they clean out the bird feeders, I just buy more seed ), but, squirrels come and squirrels go, and having the owl get one was preferable to seeing one of our cats do so. And, yes - poor squirrel, wrong place at the wrong time (but, lucky owl, I guess).

I thought by this time of the summer my "worst garden pest" would have changed -- but nope, it remains chickweed . Spent almost 5 hours in the garden today weeding, and the vast majority was chickweed. Oh, grasshoppers are eating a few holes in some leaves, but nothing to get excited about. Slugs aren't even really bothering too much stuff this year. No asparagus beetles. And I have only myself to blame for my "worst garden pest," because I didn't weed very diligently last year and that @#$%^^& chickweed went to seed!

Start harvesting the chickweed for your salads. If you like it well enough you'll be eating more than can grow at one time.

I'm pretty sure I could feed the entire upper peninsula chickweed salads and still not run out... (and even have some purslane to mix in for variety )

Weedwhacker said:
Well, it was definitely shocking! And, I seem to be one of the few people here that actually enjoys the squirrels (and don't mind that they clean out the bird feeders, I just buy more seed ), but, squirrels come and squirrels go, and having the owl get one was preferable to seeing one of our cats do so. And, yes - poor squirrel, wrong place at the wrong time (but, lucky owl, I guess).

Ever since I saw these cute baby squirrels, I feel bad for them when ever they're killed. Well at least, the owl probably got to feed its owlets.

RickCorey said:>> camel crickets,

Camel crickets???

Camel crickets?!?

Camel crickets!!!

Please tell me those are not crickets the size of camels!

I've read about genetic engineering, but hoped that "en-gene-ers" would be smart enough to avoid crossing insects with camels.

"Knowledge is knowing that tomatoes are fruits, but wisdom is knowing not to put them in fruit salad."

Horrible little beasts! Not quite camel size yet...


Did some reading and concluded that they too, are feasting on my plants. They like beer more than the slugs and myself. All three were boozing it up until the camera flash struck them. Between the crickets and slugs, I should use them for bait.

bwv998 said:

Ever since I saw these cute baby squirrels, I feel bad for them when ever they're killed. Well at least, the owl probably got to feed its owlets.

I love their cuteness and their antics, too

But, they don't seem to cause any problems in my veggie garden... if they did, that could be a whole 'nother story!

I actually kinda wanted to bring them home. The three squirrels seemed to have no mother and did not run away when I approached them (was very close). Plus one died.

Tempting though it can be -- it's almost always best to leave wild animals in their own habitat.

One day several years ago I was watching a chipmunk at my bird feeder. Suddenly a dark shadow appeared. A hawk grabbed the chipmunk right off the feeder. It flew in over my house and it's shadow appeared in my window view before it did. It's still a wild world out there.

Some birds were eating bird seed off the ground, under a big, low-hanging branch.

Something hawk-like saw them and it wanted to dive-bomb and grab one. But the branch was in the way.

It had to start it's dive from some distance away and come in at an angle to clear the branch, then bend up to reach the birds.

It looked like a cruise missile, power-diving in a ruler-straight line to clear the branch, then cutting a corner and drawing another straight line-segment to target the birds.

But the kink gave them time to see him and escape. That hawk was an awesome killing machine, but the prey birds knew how to use cover and evade!

"Nature, red in tooth and claw."

Last spring there was a hawk on the small pine tree and I went out and clapped my hands and yelled at it to go somewhere else, my bird feeders were not busy for days because they knew the hawk was there watching....I make sure to put the feeders near trees that they can fly into fast. Yesterday I saw hawks above and was getting nervous, my 3 cats were out, and the one on the tether is only about 7 lbs, I am always out with the cats but was afraid it would swoop down and try to get the tetherd one. We also have lots of rabbits, but I don`t think a hawk would know the cat was my pet, it is food to them I imagine.

Japanese beetles are horrible here

.

5. WHEN they land on plants suitable, they will excrete white dry substance on leaves, marking for buffet!
6. Entirely most important step is here and now.

you MUST get these ones off as quickly as possible. They are the candle holders for the rest of the devils.
Extinguish them.....

7. All you need to do is simply hold a cup of water under them and tap them in. Be careful. That movement will set the rest off of the plant. Be incognito, you must.... they do NOT bite, their legs are just very grip secured. Don't be scared.

8. ALSO REMOVE LEAVES WITH WHITE SUBSTANCE REMAINING. That is their candle!
Throw away or burn.




White substance? Hmmmm I might have these beetles.. Gotta investigate this

A woodpecker. You can hear him in the day and night and has woken us up before.

in 1 visit to the grape vine I got at minimum 75 Beetles into the bucket of water, yuk, i keep at it 2 times a day, would be more often but I
go to work full time.

Bwv, those photos of the squirrels were so adorable!

God forbid if there was a nuclear bomb dropped, the only ones that would survive are ants & roaches. I keep putting down insecticide to kill my ants outside... And whatever the gardener doesn't blow away, these bastards keep coming back! I'm so determined to win this ant war.

With love in my heart, it has to be my husband!! He is like a bull in a china closet one the beds and around the plants. He adores things with motors and blades, and feels chopping down anything qualifies as yard work. I have got in the habit of trying to sneak out to get a little work done. Poor guy, means well.