OlMelody's Blog

garden pests welcome
Aug 8, 2009 | 3:26 PM PST

Hello again all

Yes, I'm very new to this site -- just joined this a.m. -- and I'm new to REAL gardening.  I've played at it and enjoyed it all my many years, but am only beginning to understand the ecosystem of it all!  How Exciting!!!  I was raised in the era of "Better Living Through Chemistry" -- remember that commercial?

If you have anything you'd like to share, I'd love to hear it!  I am currently reading a bood entitled "The Gardener's Guide to Common-Sense Pest Control", an abridged version of the "Common-Sense Pest Control" by Olkowski x2 and S. Daar.  WOW  It is mosly over my head, but I love the whole concept of balancing my pests and plants!  I already appreciate raising NATIVE plants -- why fight it?

I was recently mowing and mowed over an unknown nest of ground bees, which of course upset them and I got stung twice -- more like BITES -- OW!  But, they did not pursue me and since that incident, I have found that I can get very close to their nest entrance and not disturb them.  So, instead of killing them all I'm going to observe them and try to respect them.  Thus, I picked up this Pest Control book.  Oh I warned the children and parents around me to avoid them and that I'm "taking care of them."  So, we'll see.  But they have nested quite close to my blackberry garden (I set out 3 thornless varieties this past Spring) so I welcome them.  And yes, we had an abundant crop this early summer of wonderful blackberries!

Then there's the issue of those nasty looking earwigs.  YUCK-A-ROO!!!  Turns out, the mulch we used attracted them so it's our fault they are so invasive.  BUT, they are omnivorus so I will let them live awhile as well and observe.  Now if I can just get my husband on board . . .  HA  Well, actually we will have to exterminate some things I suppose, if we can't successfully move them.  WHATEVER.  I'm new at this! 

So, any of you out there also interested in our little "pests" and working WITH them instead of against them?  What a concept?! 

This is new to me because I can no longer afford to purchase all the chemicals!  So perhaps there is an upside to being nearly broke.  I'm certainly looking for any silver lining I can find! 

Oh, and out of my forest, I have "rescued" 3 trees -- two of which I know their names, the third I'm letting grow until I can figure it out.  I know, get a picture and post it here.  OK -- later!  Gotta' mow again today.  The drought of 2007 in GA has officially ended this summer of 2009!  WOW  In three years, this is the first summer our yard didn't crunch.  Yes, I will go around the bees today.  They are in a gravel area anyway -- easy to miss if one just pays attention.

God bless you all for listening to this ol' lady

Melody