My contradictory relationship with bugs

Bugs are everywhere! I suppose it is a good thing that we are normally unaware of just how many bugs we live with on a daily basis, otherwise I for one would be too freaked out to ever sleep or walk outside my home.


Bugs make up more than half of all living things in the world. Today there are more than a million known species of bugs and there are many more waiting to be discovered. Scientists estimate that at any given time there are up to 40 MILLION insects in an area the size of a football field.

We as humans have decided that some bugs get to be classified as "beneficial", especially those that are pollinators or prey on less desirable species. These include bees, ladybugs, mantis and lacewings. 

It also includes spiders. Shudders. I have very strong feelings about arachnids. Very VERY strong feelings - most of them not all that positive. Though I think we have come to an agreement.

In my garden I understand and can even appreciate the benefits of spiders - preying upon and eliminating some of the more annoying other insects like mosquitoes, ants and flies. I have even come to terms with those that occasionally want to set up their webs outside my kitchen window. I realize that for them it is a good strategic move as the light from inside attracts flying insects into their webs. 

Big spider on the RIGHT side of the window ... OUTSIDE !

However if any insect ENTERS my home then all bets are off - full scale warfare will ensue. And I am not ashamed to boast that in the end I always win.

For the last couple of years there has been an issue with ants. These are not the tiny "sugar ants" that I remember my grandmother having to deal with - no, these are large black ants that crunch loudly when you step on them. For the past several years I have transitioned all the food storage in my pantry to either glass or heavy plastic containers. Finding you have to dispose of several pounds of brown sugars and cereal because of invasion is not something I want to go through again.

I have complained to the Association about these buggers. Because these insects have NOTHING to do with the cleanliness of my kitchen - these are Carpenter Ants. They are feeding on wet and rotting wood of the structure - most likely the sheeting of the unit side facing the main street. We have had problems there before. Additionally, workers have found significant wood damage from ants in all the trim boards. I have placed industrial strength insecticides into any nest openings when I can find them. I was assured that they would have a professional spray done this year - but not sure if/when that was done.

So until I get an answer or resolution back from the Association I guess I am fighting this particular battle by myself. Good thing my Arsenal is stocked. I just DARE any critter to cross this line of death ........

Evolution of My Garden

When I first moved into my townhouse I knew that as wonderful as finally being able to own my home was - I had made some trade-offs. Things that ideally I would still like to have in my home, but which for now will have to wait until I turn this place over and purchase a single family house.

Things such as a fireplace, a yard, the ability to install rain barrels and create a compost pile - and most importantly a real garden - both for vegetables and flowering plants and trees.

But the one missing feature I have chafed at the most from the first months is the lack of a real garden. In fact, just prior to the closing I spoke to the primary Trustee of the Association at the time and asked about getting permission to plant flowers along the front of my unit. A rather barren area at the time with just a small rhododendron and an oddly shaped evergreen.



Within a couple of years I had moved in some "found" violet rhizomes, a Bleeding Heart, started some Astilbe, installed one little Hosta plant and added some Valerian. These images are from about 2003:

This image shows the perimeter of the original beds. At this point I was rather pleased at how well the Valerian seemed to be settling in ... little did I realize that this plant is in actuality a thug that will take over and dominate everything else if you don't keep an eye on it.


Fast forward about nine years and a lot has changed.......






Remember that little Rhodie? .. well, it sure grew up and up and out ...








The Astilbe is doing well and by the end of the summer, the hosta will be twice this size. I really need to divide it this fall. AND I need to move the bleeding heart, which is now completely hidden behind the over grown rhododendron.







 
The Valerian continues to divide and multiply, and I have continued to creep around the original corner of my planting area and move down the side of my unit. 

You can also see that recently the perimeter of the planting beds were enlarged to take into account the growth of the base plantings





Having quickly run out of space with just the space along the front and sides of my condo - I extended my flowering efforts to the area surrounding a small evergreen which sits at the sidewalk end of each unit's front walkway. My Day Lillies, Lambs Ear, Bee Balm and Cosmos like this location and come back yearly with almost no effort on my part.









Just as a contrast - this is a picture of the other units that make up my side of the complex.

*YAWN*

My backdoor garden

Well well well ... an actual blog page. Can my heart stand the excitement?

I know, snarky right off the bat. Oh well - if you are "snark" or "sarcasm" intolerant then perhaps this is not the place for you. However if you can hand seeing the odd inside workings of a modern day miser with an odd slant on life then sit down and read on.

I will probably be posting a lot of things in the next day or so just to transfer some of my writings to this forum - although a lot of my reference information will continue to be housed on my site at: http://honeylioness.proboards.com/

But for the moment let's talk about the critters I live with - the four footed monsters who seem to think I live here only to serve their every whim..... hmmmm - perhaps I do.

But moving on .....

I live in a townhouse without a REAL garden - which is a lamentation you will hear from me often. However on my portion of the back deck that runs the entire inner perimeter of the townhouse complex I do have an area for some planters. Which I take full advantage of ....

This is the view looking towards my kitchen door on the left - I have a small bistro set where I can eat dinner or just enjoy the coolness of the evening - there is a deep overhang a story up not seen that protects this corner from most rain showers.

Here you can better see my thriving tomato plants, in the foreground is a planter of sweet peppers.

I also grow cat-mint or catnip - which is in the hanging basket in the middle of the picture. I am sure the reason for growing it in a hanging basket is obvious ... not that MY cats would ever have a substance issue with the wacky weed ..*smirks*

As with some of my house plants, such as a coleus, I know that pinching off the flower buds and spikes will promote bushier growth in the plant instead of letting it get too leggy. So being a good little container gardener I do that ....

Yep ... ONLY the health of the plant prompts me to do this maintainance ... after all .. what other reason could there be? Could these buds be of another use besides compost? I wonder ...... do you think any of the cats would be interested in them ....

I had to laugh when I saw the first picture .. David is actually licking his lip in anticipation! They are all quiet now ... vegging out on various pieces of furniture at the moment. Ah, I am such a cheap date - just let me watch my cats get stoned and I'm entertained.