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| Welcome Home My Florida! |
| New Beginnings! |
I found it! The perfect gardening experience... The neighbors garden!! Yes, I'm forgetting my dreams
of finding the garden for me and picking on the neighbors for inspiration and experience. Already I'm
learning how many more problems one comes across during the hot months of the summer and in
the central part of Florida verses the northern counties. So hang on and learn with me!
of finding the garden for me and picking on the neighbors for inspiration and experience. Already I'm
learning how many more problems one comes across during the hot months of the summer and in
the central part of Florida verses the northern counties. So hang on and learn with me!
| The Country Garden |
Diary of a Gardener
| JULY 2008 |
Dragonfly
Counteracts these pest(s)
Aphid
How to recognize
There are more than 80 species in
Washington. They can be identified by
their long narrow body, their large
compound eyes and the four
transparent wings. There is variation
in color. Sizes range from one to two
inches. The larvae are found in water.
Benefits
They eat mosquitoes, aphids and
other pest bugs.
How to attract
Dragonflies and damselflies have
decreased considerably in
abundance as the wetland areas
where they live have dramatically
decreased. Want dragonflies? Don't
fill in that marshy area. Better yet,
enlarge it, or dig your own pond.
Counteracts these pest(s)
Aphid
How to recognize
There are more than 80 species in
Washington. They can be identified by
their long narrow body, their large
compound eyes and the four
transparent wings. There is variation
in color. Sizes range from one to two
inches. The larvae are found in water.
Benefits
They eat mosquitoes, aphids and
other pest bugs.
How to attract
Dragonflies and damselflies have
decreased considerably in
abundance as the wetland areas
where they live have dramatically
decreased. Want dragonflies? Don't
fill in that marshy area. Better yet,
enlarge it, or dig your own pond.
My friends Alexia and Janelle decided to plant a garden this year. The first obstacle was
picking the best location... They kind of messed up as their spot is next to the house and
only gets part-time sun. Rule of thumb is to locate a vegetable garden in the sunniest
location in your yard. However, this didn't stop them.
They proceeded and came across the second obstacle... keeping the dogs out of the
garden. So 'we' collectively decided to build somewhat of a raised bed. (To be honest, it
should have been build about three times as high as what we created, but it did give us
the opportunity to load up with about 12 bags of really nice soil from Miracle Grow... much
better than the sandy soil in this location). We decided on using the planks found in
picking the best location... They kind of messed up as their spot is next to the house and
only gets part-time sun. Rule of thumb is to locate a vegetable garden in the sunniest
location in your yard. However, this didn't stop them.
They proceeded and came across the second obstacle... keeping the dogs out of the
garden. So 'we' collectively decided to build somewhat of a raised bed. (To be honest, it
should have been build about three times as high as what we created, but it did give us
the opportunity to load up with about 12 bags of really nice soil from Miracle Grow... much
better than the sandy soil in this location). We decided on using the planks found in
| SOLVE THE PROBLEM CLICK THE PHOTO FOR CLOSE UP VIEW |
| ok... $5.00 goes to the first one who tells me what this pest is and how to get rid of it! Your description must match the research found on the net. WIN $5.00 Email me HERE Write SOLVE THE PROBLEM in the subject line to qualify! |
Parents do everything they can to keep their kids from getting dirty, but in
reality, our environment is much too clean! Immune cells that are not
exposed to naturally occurring soil microbes tend to overreact when they
finally come in contact with them. Too many adults and children have
been denied this much-needed exposure. The immune systems of
children and adults are overreactive because they are no longer being
properly "educated" on the biological playground of life.
To make matters worse, we oversterilize everything with disinfectant
dishwashing, hand soaps, and shower gels; disinfectant body lotions
and skin bars; and "deodorant soaps" loaded with antibiotic disinfectants
such as triclosan. And we sterilize our soil using pesticides and
herbicides that destroy beneficial and harmful microbes alike. These
substances harm the immune systems of all living things, including the
very plants we try to "improve" with our technological advancements.
Our immune systems need regular exposure to naturally occurring soil
organisms for long-term health! If I child isn't exposed to soil organisms
early in life, his or her immune system may seriously overreact when
exposed to completely benign intruders later in life. Loosing touch with
our planet has had an unfortunate consequence: It has contributed to the
development of allergies, autoimmune diseases, and certain types of
asthma in children and adults alike.
reality, our environment is much too clean! Immune cells that are not
exposed to naturally occurring soil microbes tend to overreact when they
finally come in contact with them. Too many adults and children have
been denied this much-needed exposure. The immune systems of
children and adults are overreactive because they are no longer being
properly "educated" on the biological playground of life.
To make matters worse, we oversterilize everything with disinfectant
dishwashing, hand soaps, and shower gels; disinfectant body lotions
and skin bars; and "deodorant soaps" loaded with antibiotic disinfectants
such as triclosan. And we sterilize our soil using pesticides and
herbicides that destroy beneficial and harmful microbes alike. These
substances harm the immune systems of all living things, including the
very plants we try to "improve" with our technological advancements.
Our immune systems need regular exposure to naturally occurring soil
organisms for long-term health! If I child isn't exposed to soil organisms
early in life, his or her immune system may seriously overreact when
exposed to completely benign intruders later in life. Loosing touch with
our planet has had an unfortunate consequence: It has contributed to the
development of allergies, autoimmune diseases, and certain types of
asthma in children and adults alike.
| Don't Be Afraid Of Your Dirt! Biblical Healthy Daily |
| Now, get out in this glorious Florida Day and get those hands dirty! |
your local home store that are typically used
for deck floors. It won't rot and isn't chemically
treated like pre-treated wood. We had Bob
and Eric, friends of mine come and within
about 30 minutes they had the planks cut and
the whole thing done! It's good to have men in
your life!
The garden was started with two tomato
plants, next about 18 corn seeds, then on to
sweet peas, salad mix, peppers and carrots.
for deck floors. It won't rot and isn't chemically
treated like pre-treated wood. We had Bob
and Eric, friends of mine come and within
about 30 minutes they had the planks cut and
the whole thing done! It's good to have men in
your life!
The garden was started with two tomato
plants, next about 18 corn seeds, then on to
sweet peas, salad mix, peppers and carrots.
I was really surprised to see how fast everything POPPED up! The tomato's doubled in
size in just days and the corn was about 4" high, starting from seed, in about that same
time! Good soil makes ALL the difference!
Now comes the hard part... Pests... In the pics below, you'll see we've got a couple of
issues going on... WORMS! YUCK! Tonight when I went to take more photos, I found
tiny baby worms everywhere! I had instructed Janelle to use an insecticide soap and
they've been using it for about a week to no avail...
size in just days and the corn was about 4" high, starting from seed, in about that same
time! Good soil makes ALL the difference!
Now comes the hard part... Pests... In the pics below, you'll see we've got a couple of
issues going on... WORMS! YUCK! Tonight when I went to take more photos, I found
tiny baby worms everywhere! I had instructed Janelle to use an insecticide soap and
they've been using it for about a week to no avail...
| This is the garden just 4 to 6 days after planting! It's amazing what great soil will do for any garden! I know I sound like a commercial, but honestly folks... it pays to have a great foundation! God tells us the same thing about life! |
To the left, I managed
to get at least one
crappy picture of the
creatures invading
this garden. It's
amazing how much
damage they can do
to a garden in a very
short time. I've taken
this to my favorite
Garden forum,
Garden Stew to see if
anyone can help!
to get at least one
crappy picture of the
creatures invading
this garden. It's
amazing how much
damage they can do
to a garden in a very
short time. I've taken
this to my favorite
Garden forum,
Garden Stew to see if
anyone can help!
| Corn size at about 10 days! Amazing! Right: Salad Mix |
Yeeee Ouch! The pepper
plant just about croaked
within a couple days of
planting! These worms are
devastating to a garden.
To the right, Carrots!
They're coming along just
fine... so far.
plant just about croaked
within a couple days of
planting! These worms are
devastating to a garden.
To the right, Carrots!
They're coming along just
fine... so far.
Lessons learned to this point:
1. Sunny, sunny, sunny location
2. Use GREAT soil!
3. Be prepared for the worse.
Creatures pop up from seemingly
nowhere to invade young, tender
greens.
4. Have several different pest
controls readily available and
keep a CLOSE eye on your
plants. These worms are very
hard to find, but with patience and
a little time, I was able to find
dozens of the critters and
eliminate them on the spot.
4. Variety in foods... this is yet to
be determined as everything is so
young. We'll see soon if we've
over planted as we don't want to
shade out the sun from the
smaller plants.
1. Sunny, sunny, sunny location
2. Use GREAT soil!
3. Be prepared for the worse.
Creatures pop up from seemingly
nowhere to invade young, tender
greens.
4. Have several different pest
controls readily available and
keep a CLOSE eye on your
plants. These worms are very
hard to find, but with patience and
a little time, I was able to find
dozens of the critters and
eliminate them on the spot.
4. Variety in foods... this is yet to
be determined as everything is so
young. We'll see soon if we've
over planted as we don't want to
shade out the sun from the
smaller plants.
| Your Monthly Garden Tip |
| For More Info CLICK HERE |