What did you do in the garden today?

[Molpet]

Good morning & happy Sunday gardeners! We seem to be going through a dry spell here, so watering (& weeding of course) & cutting grass later, are on the agenda (raise the blade to 3 inches since my nutsedge & Bermuda grass lawn is brown already...well, the white clover & the minimal grass parts are green ).

I overheard some news while checking weather...heard some random complaints of lantern flies, but I haven't seen any here, yet. I have seen stink bugs & of course the no see'ums, skeeters, flies & ticks. A few Japanese Beetles were on Magnolia flowers but a little flick, they fall & my chickens go into action! (Very entertaining )

A video popped up on my phone, a newsy clip, they were talking about Joro spiders. Well, a few of the photos were of Golden Orbs...our wonderful yellow & black garden spiders that are considered to be very beneficial. The Golden Orb was actually on a cover of Organic Gardening magazine in the 90s, as being a gardener's friend.

Well, Newspeople, the average Joe will go on a Golden Orb killing spree now, you stupid idiots. If they're gonna report something, at least get the photos right!

Joro & Golden Orbs may be related, but they are different, & really while the Joro is from Asia, it is nothing to get freaked out over. They tend to mind their own business & wait for prey to come to them, as most spiders do. They are Not roaming the earth, sailing around on web strands & breezes, seeking out humans to attack.

Thought I'd post this info.

The News just uses stock photos/videos. One of the stations here makes fun of the videos. They run the same clip every overweight report. Anchors would say "and there's the woman with the flowers shorts from the 80s"
When the Ukraine started some news used old footage from a different war and there was a big hubbub because it was so inaccurate.
Used to be it was current footage or just the report. Now with computers instead of being more accurate it's just some random spider picture .

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Ahh, the sun filled days of summer. Gardeners get so focused on their chores, they often get sun burnt. Eyes & hair can get fried by the sun, too. Remember to wear your sun protection y'all.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I did a little weeding this morning. We’re actually getting some of that promised rain @Sueby. I really prefer “sky” water over chlorinated town water for the garden. One of my watermelon plants is doing well, the other “one” is being eaten. I suspect some foraging sparrows. Lol! I grabbed a cup of dirt from that garden bed to try starting another one. Fingers crossed.

 

[Sueby]

I’m also having issues. It’s a bit annoying!

So annoying!

I did a little weeding this morning. We’re actually getting some of that promised rain @Sueby. I really prefer “sky” water over chlorinated town water for the garden. One of my watermelon plants is doing well, the other “one” is being eaten. I suspect some foraging sparrows. Lol! I grabbed a cup of dirt from that garden bed to try starting another one. Fingers crossed.

Finally raining here now too. So nice to be able to open the windows!

 

[Sammster]

Not much happening here, were supposed to have a bit of rain but they've been saying that for days & I haven't seen any yet.

I'm about to give up on melons this year. I started so many seeds & none sprouted so I went & bought starts & they are literally just sitting there doing nothing but maybe turning a little yellow. I had my soil tested recently & it's perfect. I topped with some compost in spring. Melons were what I was most excited for this year now that I have the room for them.

Everything else is doing great.

Toss the seeds in your compost pile?

 

[Smokerbill]

Garden tour...

The second year curly parsley plant is starting to form blossoms. Last year's parsley plant had blossoms all summer long and attracted loads of beneficial insects.



Tarragon, oregano, lemon balm, thyme, chives, lavender and marjoram. A stray potato plant growing from tubers that were already here when I started the garden. Volunteer flat leaf parsley plants in path.


Tomatoes, deteminate in front, indeterminate to the rear.


Taters...


Garlic scapes forming, onions...






Bok choi, collards, cauliflower and red Russian kale.


Poppies, horseradish...


Peas, not blooming yet...


Zucchini, rattlesnake beans...


Red leaf lettuce, carrots...


5 little okra plants...


Butternut squash, Jalapeno and bell peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and carrots. And a flat leaf parsley plant.

 

[jerryse]

Shaking some branches on the mulberry tree. Got about a quart of berries.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I planted red lettuce and and a mustard spinach.
Picked a bunch of weeds on the fence line gave it to the birds.

 

[Sammster]

I just pulled several, plump caterpillars off my dill plant and dropped them in soapy water. Then I noticed skillions of tiny... "dots" all over the plant - top to bottom.
THEN I looked up dill pests and discovered that I likely killed swallowtail larva. Are these tiny dots eggs? Or might they be caterpillar frass? I was going to pull the plant and discard it. It's in a pot on my deck. But I will just move it and keep it if it's swallowtail eggs.

 

[Smokerbill]

I just pulled several, plump caterpillars off my dill plant and dropped them in soapy water. Then I noticed skillions of tiny... "dots" all over the plant - top to bottom.
THEN I looked up dill pests and discovered that I likely killed swallowtail larva. Are these tiny dots eggs? Or might they be caterpillar frass? I was going to pull the plant and discard it. It's in a pot on my deck. But I will just move it and keep it if it's swallowtail eggs.
View attachment 3858282

Those look like little yellow bugs to me. I think I can see legs.