tootsie's Blog

Hello? Spring? are you coming?
Apr 20, 2008 | 8:31 AM PST

     I woke up this morning to a white yard and gardens....the signs of spring are all hiding under about 10 inches of snow.  I realize that this is normal spring weather for Alberta, but that does not make it any easier to look at.    Just two days ago there were peony's poking through the soil and I saw a dandelion (which I immediately pulled) in the grass.   And here I am....getting ready to go outside and shovel the sidewalks!   Welcome to Alberta....where it is possible to experience all four seasons in one day! 

     I go outside every morning as soon as I have brushed my teeth and check on the status of my greenhouse.  It was so cold here last night that I thought I had better hurry.   I could not go as quick as I normally would, as I have now got a sore knee from going on the ice!   I tried to stop a rather embarrassing fall for myself, and somehow twisted my knee in the process.....so I am limping as quick as I can to get the few feet out to the greenhouse......I opened the door and almost burst into tears.....I walked into  a most welcome scene.....many of my petunias had begun to bloom..and the marigolds..and a few of the Geraniums had started to open up....the beautiful colors and the SMELL!  OMG I was deep  breathing the entire tour!   The petunias smell so pretty this time of year.....this is spring!   I had been mumbling under my breath all morning about spring not coming to stay....went out to my greenhouse, and found out that it had been here all the time!

     In closing ....I would like to thank all my new friends and old ones that are trying to help me with the aphid issue I have in the greenhouse this year.....I am going to keep trying all of your suggestions until one works!   I do appreciate how when one gardener is stuck....the others stop to help.  

   

Can I possibly catch a break?
Apr 17, 2008 | 12:12 PM PST
Tag: APHIDS

     This is a very frustrating year in my greenhouse.  It is the first year for me to plant in there, as my hubby had only built it last spring, and I had already planted everything in my old one....

    I am working on a daily basis to find my "niche" in there....I am fairly organized, but that means nothing to a plant.  As hard as I worked....and as clean as I keep it...I have hit a major road block.   APHIDS have come to call.   I have been fighting with them since last fall, and thought I had them beat.  Upon doing a bunch of research .....I have learned that Aphids and Ants go hand in hand.  Ants keep the Aphids in their "Nest" for the winter and in the spring they will transport the aphid to the plant of their choice.  Ants like the sweet sugar residue that the Aphids leave behind and so it is a happy partnership on both their parts.  Since we here in Alberta saw a huge explosion of the Ant population last summer.....I fear that I am fighting a losing battle.  Aphids are also born pregnant (an egg within an egg)  so that is an issue as well. 

I have tried the dish soap and water spray remedy....the Safer Soap insecticide...and still I have the little buggers killing my greenhouse.  Last night I emptied a can of raid in there.  Cross your fingers!

I have so far lost all 7 flats of Pansys.....7 flats of dusty miller, Malva and 4 flats of Verbena.....This morning I noticed that the alyssum and Lobelia are not looking good either....this is not good.  I fear that my gardens this year will consist only of petunia, Marigold and Geranium. 

My good news is that the new color of petunia that I have planted this year seems to be bug free....and is going to be a very pretty blue.  It is an electric color that jumps out at you.  I can hardly wait to see them in photos.  I have already gotten all 30 of my hanging baskets planted and ready to put outside....as well as 10 huge 24" pots to put on the patio.....not to mention the various other pots that are placed here and there all over the yard.....I am running out of room in my special little house....at least until the Aphids "clear me some more"

I would absolutely love to get myself outside in the yard and get started.  We were very fortunate this year as we had a super mild winter in comparisson to many in the past.  I have been telling myself not to get too excited, as Mother Nature always makes up for a mild winter here in Alberta.  And.....I was right.  we are expecting  at least a foot of snow between today and tomorrow evening.  That doesn't include the snow they have forecasted for the week end!  Last spring we got 3 feet of snow at the end of May.  Never a dull moment in the weather department here!

If there are any of you master gardeners out there that could offer me a suggestion that will work on the Aphid issues....PLEASE.....PLEASE ......PLEASE let me know!