Gardening Archives – Page 23 of 33 – Strength Of The Small

Cockroaches Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Cockroaches: Destructive Pests

By JM PerezAugust 21, 20132 min read555 views

A new found pest in my Garden this month are cockroaches. In addition to dealing with Cutworms, Curl Grubs, Slugs and Snails, I am now forced to deal with cockroaches. After noticing that only one of my Rose Bushes bloomed all Summer (some bloomed and the flower sort of disappeared the following day) and finding a colony of cockroaches underneath my dead Red Riding Hood Beardtongue plants which I have owned for less than three months, I knew I had a serious problem to handle. These pests are busy eating the roots of my plants as well as flowers on my Roses. I knew they were a nuisance, but never knew they could destroy an entire plant. This morning I was surprised to find a colony of cockroach at the base of an Oleander bush.

Cockroach in Mulch. — *Cockroach in Mulch (…).*

Just like Beetles, some species of Cockroaches burrow a couple of inches into the soil and lay their eggs. They feed on pretty much anything, thrive in hot weather, multiply rapidly, they are survivors, they adapt and evolve. All of which make it difficult to completely eradicate them.

A few solutions:

Place cockroach (sticky) traps among your plants
Apply cockroach spray or some Insecticide Ready-to-Spray Liquid (recommended on ornamental trees, flowers, fruits and vegetable gardens)
Spray Neem Oil over the breeding area to repel the insects
Keep your garden free of food and water source to minimize their presence

Click here to learn more about Cockroaches.
Get a Trapper Insect Trap (Great for Bed Bugs, Spiders, Cockroaches) – Includes 90 Traps.

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By JM Perez

Caterpillars Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Outdoor Moments

By JM PerezAugust 16, 20132 min read550 views

It’s a lovely day here in the High Desert, except for the high temperatures. Just a couple of weeks ago, the weather seemed to be getting cooler and now we are back to Summer heat.

Not being able to do some gardening, I took a twenty minute break from my daughter to walk around the yard and admire the plants. Everything looks beautiful in the backyard, so I made my way to the front yard. Only two of my mature Rose bushes are starting to bloom and my Bird of Paradise Bush was in full bloom, with clusters of beautiful yellow flowers and red long stamens (looks more like Pink to me).

As I reached over to touch a flower, I saw a Yellow Caterpillar resting on a flower bud, which appears to be a Yellow larva of either the Cloudless Sulphur or Orange-barred Sulphur Caterpillar. If you take a closer look at the picture above, you will see what appears to be a web. That alone tells me that the yellow caterpillar is either building a tent or recently emerged from it. I love butterflies; though truth be told, I dislike the larval stage.

Yellow Caterpillar on Bird of Paradise Bush. — *Bird of Paradise Bush hosting a Yellow Caterpillar.*

My Common Broom plants are covered with Genista Caterpillars (the only plants they feed on in my yard). These caterpillars are the larvae of the Genista Broom Moth, Lepidoptera Pyralidae. Click here to read all about these caterpillars, their origins and how to manage/get rid of them.

Finally when temperatures cooled off late in the afternoon, we decided to spend the rest of the day in the backyard, organizing and cleaning up the garage. While we were busy working, my kids spotted a Sheriff Helicopter flying over the Neighborhood. It doesn’t happen quite often, so they are thrilled when they see one.

Sheriff Helicopter. — *Sheriff Helicopter flying over the Neighborhood.*

It’s Friday and I wish you all a beautiful weekend.

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Collecting Gladiolus Seeds

By JM PerezAugust 5, 20131 min read2.8K views

A few more Glads are blooming in my garden this morning and they are utterly charming. I have more coming on though I am not sure they will bloom at the same time.

Gladiolus 'White Prosperity'. — *Gladiolus ‘White Prosperity’.*

Gladiolus 'Early Bird'. — *Gladiolus ‘Early Bird’.*

Gladiolus 'Fiorentina'. — *Gladiolus ‘Fiorentina’.*

Gladiolus 'Yellow'. — *Gladiolus ‘Yellow’.*

Gladiolus 'Super Star'. — *Gladiolus ‘Super Star’.*

For the first time in two years, I decided to collect Gladiolus seeds. As the seed pods matured and turned brown, I cut the dry tall stalks, cracked open the seed pods and collected the seeds which I put in a plastic bag and placed in a cool area. I don’t know if the seeds are viable or if they will germinate; I will find out next Spring.

Gladiolus Seed Pod & Seeds. — *Gladiolus Seed Pods & Seeds (‘Super Star’).*

I will be sharing more pictures as soon as the other Glads bloom.

It’s a beautiful day. Happy Gardening!

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Growing Your Garden For Less

By JM PerezAugust 2, 20133 min read648 views

Living in the High Desert can be so unpredictable for a new comer and overwhelming for a Gardener (you can read about it here). I still remember how frustrated I used to be the first year of being here. Being indecisive about which plants to buy, having to deal with Gophers and Rabbits and worst, spending so much money to replace damaged/dead plants. Once I was able to figure out my actual USDA Plant Hardiness Zone as well as which plants prefer cold weather as opposed to warm weather; I began choosing a variety of drought tolerant plants that I love, which are easy to care for and which will complement my garden.

What I did in the past (and to which I am still open) was exchange plant seeds, cuttings with neighbors, offer to take plants they no longer wanted and vice versa. When visiting local nurseries, I first stop at the clearance section where most plants on the shelves are 50% off or less. About two and a half years ago I bought a 2 Gallon Potted Rose Bush and discovered a tiny plant growing next to it. At first I thought it was a Rose sucker, but it turned out to be a semi-climbing ‘John Cabot’ Rose. Since the Rose isn’t a true climber, I have been using plant twists to attach the upright stems to the trellis for support and it’s been thriving ever since.

‘John Cabot’ Rose. — *‘John Cabot’ Rose (May 2011).*

Since my little discovery, I have been looking at the base of my self-seeding plants for new shoots or growth from seeds. Two weeks ago I found tiny Gaura Lindheimeri growing amongst my Daylilies from dispersed seeds. I carefully pulled out the young and tender plants which I moved to a more desirable location.

Early this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find two Bird of Paradise Bush seedlings underneath the main Plant.

Above is my Pendula Yucca propagating from rhizomes. I have had the plant for three and a half years. I transplanted my first sprout almost two years ago and the second one last month (both from the same Mother plant). Click here to learn more about Yucca Species Propagation.

If you are interested in Self Seeding Plants, here is a list for you (again, always check for plant toxicity):

Zinnia
Lavatera
Nigella Hispanica
Four O’Clock
Alchemilla Mollis
Love-in-a-Mist
Viola
Gloriosa Daisy
Rose Campion
Knautia Macedonica
Morning Glory
Sunflower

Forget-Me-Not
Touch-Me-Not
Spider Flower
Delosperma Cooperei
Ageratum
Stipa Tenuissima
Larkspur
Foxgloves
Coreopsis
Oriental Poppies
California Poppies
Asclepias Speciosa

Aquilegia Vulgaris
Eryngium Giganteum
Meconopsis Cambrica
Blue Thimble Flower
Geranium Pratense
Clarkia
Snapdragon
Rudbeckia
Jewel of Opar
Alyssum
Verbena Bonariensis
Bachelor’s Buttons

How Can You Grow Your Garden For Less?

Understand your Plant Hardiness Zone
Purchase the right plants for your location
Exchange plants/split seed packets with family, friends, neighbors
Visit the section with 50% off Plants at your local nurseries
Visit a 99¢ Only Stores for a huge selection of plants
Buy self-seeding/self-sowing plants

I hope some of you will find this post helpful. I’m always interested in hearing your Gardening ideas or tips.

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By JM Perez

Ground Squirrel Garden Decor Family Gardening High Desert

Yard Updates

By JM PerezJuly 27, 20132 min read892 views

Today has been a busy day for us and quite rewarding too.

While visiting Linda Marie’s Enchanted Treasures yesterday, I spotted a gorgeous set of Terracotta Pots/Planters which I ended up purchasing (amongst other things). Beautiful hand made clay pots with a flat back to rest neatly against a wall or fence. Each wall pot has two holes in the back for hanging and one more at the base for draining. They are a wonderful choice for growing trailing plants, but I am sure they would look as lovely just the way they are without any greenery in them. The simple green bow accent add charm to the Planters.

Before the sun set down yesterday, we installed and buried the last section of drip system needed for the new additions to the backyard. Plants do well on a timed watering schedule as opposed to manual watering (since it can vary on the individual’s personal schedule). Now that this project has been completed, we will move on to other partially started projects on the list. Cutting down the Sweet Almond Tree doesn’t sound bad, either.

*Ground Squirrel standing on its hind legs.*

I have come to love the Sweet Almond Tree growing in one corner of my front yard. I love the sight of its bareness in the Fall after all the leaves have fallen. I love watching those tiny bud formations turn into delicate white and pink flowers as early as late Winter. Thanks to a few reluctant ground Squirrels, we will cut down the tree. Fencing the backyard and securing openings around the wooden fence are not enough to keep them away from the tree. The depth and amount of holes they dig on a consistent basis is overwhelming to say the least. As much as it hurts me to part with the tree, I know I will gain peace of mind and more time to invest in the Family.

On a much happier note, I did some gardening today. Keeping the kids busy in the pool and getting my hands dirty (uninterrupted) put a smile on my face. To reduce the amount of Rose bushes I have in my front yard, I dug out a couple which I transplanted to an ideal location in the backyard. Last month I relocated a couple and they are thriving in their new location. As you know, Roses are one of the toughest plants around and with proper preparation, your chances for a successful transplant will be high regardless of the time of year (learn more).

I am so grateful for my huge yard with its endless possibilities and opportunities. Living and Gardening in the High Desert is quite challenging and so rewarding. My gardening success is mainly attributed to choosing the right plants for my garden and more important, the right plants for my zone. I lovingly tend to them as I would with any other living thing. One of my goals is to surround my garden with a lot more Native Plants.

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By JM Perez