Why is there a baby Northern Cardinal around so late in the season? This chick was twittering so loudly I could easily hear it through the closed window. This seems quite late. Was it a third brood for this family? (They were at the feeder for a while but of course as soon as I grabbed the camera they headed into the tree and refused to turn their heads.)
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#2: What's is so special about my water barrel that there are now two frogs hanging out there?
(The second is near the rock at the right middle side of the image)
One of them is very nervous, while the other one -- I assume the one that's been around for a while -- is more tolerant of us walking by and will actually pose for photos:
I'd think that two frogs is the limit for a "pond" of this size, but we'll see. (Note that I've actually seen a frog jump up into the barrel from the ground now. Quite funny and amazing!)
#3: Another animal question of sorts: what's a good slug repellant?
I don't typically have slug problems, but these two new plants are apparently quite tasty to them.
They're not decimating the plants, but they are making them look ugly. I'd prefer something that I can sprinkle on the ground as opposed to something I'd have to spray.
#4: Does one of these two Alocasias look better than the other?
They look like they're doing equally well to me, although the one in the back (the right one in the image above) has more pups:
This is important to me because one of them was stored as a bare "trunk" last winter and one was left in a space-hogging pot. If they appear to be equivalent now then I can just store them both as "trunks" this winter.
#5: Why is the walkway bed looking so good to me this year?
(Okay, that was rhetorical)
#6: Did you know that the ribbon bush (Homalocladium platycladum) flowers so profusely?
Tiny bees are all over this plant, all day long! Did you also know that the new leaves/branches emerge from amongst the flowers?
Pretty interesting! (I need to take a few cuttings of this as a backup overwintering strategy...)
#7: Why did I leave the potting soil bag on the lawn for so long?
A better question would be: why did I do this TWICE!?
(Answer: Laziness. Hot summer days make even simple tasks so unappealing...)
#8: How many Perilla should I let flower?
Last year I let them all bloom and they reseeded everywhere. This year I think I'll remove most of them and leave just a few. Perhaps I'll collect some seed as a backup?
#9: Why doesn't everybody grow bamboo in their gardens? So beautiful!
(I know the answer to this: too much work! But the payoff is so huge, and it's really not that much effort to keep them in check...)
#10: Is this plant actually Artemesia ludoviciana, or something else?
It's amazing this year. I'm eager to see what the small divisions I planted in other parts of the garden look like next year!
#11: (last one) What is this plant?
It's a "weed" but is so impressive. Almost 6' (1.8m) tall and wide, it's attracting so many bees. Anybody know it's name?
What's a garden without questions, right?
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I've been told slugs don't like to roof shingles. If you could find an attractive way to surround plants with roof shingles that don't have harmful chemicals, then maybe that will stop the slugs. Otherwise, the old dish of beer to drown them does decrease the population, but doesn't stop them. Strange, the new deck here is concrete. Slugs have yet to be seen this year.
ReplyDeleteI'd expect more frogs.
I can answer two:
ReplyDelete#3: I use Sluggo. It works well but needs to be applied regularly. Fortunately, our slug season is short (a few weeks in the spring) and Sluggo gets me through it.
#4: Both look equally good to me, based on your photo.
I have a question for you. :) Regarding your question #9 about bamboo, are both of the plants in the photo bamboo. I've never seen variegated bamboo. That's why I'm asking. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDiatomaceous earth or a 10% solution of ammonia. Both work great and are cheap, easy, and safe.
ReplyDeleteI use sluggo but it works best if you spray it with a little water after you throw it around. Safe for pets and wildlife. Not sure if this is true or not but I heard or read somewhere that earthworms don't like diatomaceous earth. Don't know about any of your other questions.
ReplyDelete