Posted by (Chip) on September 27, 2009

Ok so it isn’t just us who are having major bug problem’s what’s doe’s the master gardener’s at the extension office say? I have seen bug’s I have never seen before one was truly strange it had neon orange wing’s dark blue body with white spot’s on it. I tried to get a photo but it just moved to fast. and to top it all off you cant even trust lady bug’s! there are at lest 5 different look a likes, that are definitely no lady’s. Soap,oil and mouth wash has slowed them down. I have a soap disperser on my sprayer so in the evening’s if it isn’t raining I soap every thing up and the soap is good for the soil so win win I do go through a lot of soap though “Chip”

Posted by (Janna) on September 27, 2009

Scale has almost completely destroyed my desert rose. In addition to scale, I’ve seen countless unidentifiable (by me, anyway) flying, chewing and crawling pests. I saw a lubber at the top of my screened lanai the other day - way out of my reach. I think he was laughing. I prefer the all-natural pest control mixtures and they work most of the time, but I did resort to the dreaded Sevin. Only once, though. I soaked a humongous colony of tiny orange bugs that were devouring datura.

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on September 27, 2009

Oh Penny, that is so sad about the jatropha. I didn’t know scale could take down such a big healthy plant, even with all that loving intervention. Maybe the earth beneath it wasn’t healthy enough to assist the plant in that fight. Sort of like vitamins and good food help us fight off disease and build up our immune system.

I better get out and check on everything. I do know that “something” ate all the buds off my bougainvilla and if I could dig up those oleanders myself I would. I hate those oleander caterpillars.

Posted by (Chip) on September 27, 2009

You know my bougainvillea hasn’t bloomed either but they like it dry just like frangipani plumaria they grow like crazy during the rainy season and flower when it is dry you should see them in Mexico WOW! they are every ware and any color you can think of and a few you never thought of. So don’t panic about your bougainvillea yet!...“Chip”..

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on September 27, 2009

Thanks Chip. I have really never done any research on the bougainvilla. I just let it do it’s thing whenever it felt like it but didn’t know it’s “season” or when was the right time to trim. I do know I put it a little too close to the house and I don’t the full effect of what it can do as a specimen plant.  The neighbors see it more than I do.

The plumeria is doing great and the one I thought I lost in the freeze is making a comeback. No flowers yet but it sure has some big leaves.

Posted by (Janna) on September 27, 2009

Geez, Kim. Sounds like you’ve cornered the market with your bloomin’ bogeys. Good for you! I’m in the “non-blooming-bougainvillea” club. I have two huge ones that get blasted with full sun, but no blooms. My hubby cut them way back after the freezes last winter, and they are flourishing - just totally green. Chip, good to hear that when the rains let up, I might have some color! I won’t give up. Yet.

Penny, I was in the yard all day today and didn’t see the laughing lubber. Maybe it made it to the yard of my “Hit Man.” Or, “Hit Woman,” I should say.

Posted by (Chip) on September 27, 2009

Just read you article in Sundays paper about Shell’s good job on that! I love that place the plant’s and seeds they have there are the best! they don’t have a lot but if it come through that door It has been carefully chosen. I am playing beat the clock on my veggie garden my goal is to have all of my new bed’s in by next weekend no pressure! so nothing can stop me right? Tree mart has a side walk sale and my wife has to make two trip’s in her car to bring all of the new plant’s she bought home oh boy! on the plus side I now have my blue berry bush’s I always wanted and a lot more. here’s to keeping busy!...“Chip”...

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on September 27, 2009

I have learned a lot over the last two weeks about Bougainvilleas. http://www.bgi-usa.com/bougainvillea-resource/care-maintenance-bougainvillea.php This company grows all the Bougainvilleas in Florida and maybe beyond. They take special fertilizer,  see site above,any and all care is listed on this site. The fertilizer sits on a rack in front of the bougainvilleas at Home Depot. The name of the fertilizer is Bougain. Every one cross your fingers for me I am on the list for next years Master Gardeners Program!!!!!!!!!Janice

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on September 27, 2009

The best of luck to you Janice. I have always had my eye on that MG program but may have to wait to retire to have the time. Still curious though.

May try that bougain and the site is wonderful. Thanks for the tips

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on September 28, 2009

Awww, poor thing. I always have to cut mine back too and was afraid this last freeze did her in, but she rallied. Ya never know. Stress kills.

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on September 28, 2009

On the Master Gardeners program they told me they only take about 25 and I am number 61, but people drop off.

Susan glad you liked the bougain site. I did not know any of the facts about growing them but that they liked dry spells.

Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on September 28, 2009

You are a good and faithful mommy, Penny. I hope Ms Jatropha responds and flourishes under all that love.

Wow, I had no idea there was a limit on class size either for that MG class. I better sign up now for the class of 2017. If crossing rakes is good luck I’ll do that too, Best of luck Janice.

Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on September 28, 2009

First off I just noticed what the grasshoppers are doing! Penny you are bad. Thanks for all the good wishes for the Master Gardener program. If it is meant to happen it will. Janice

Posted by (Chip) on September 29, 2009

I wish you all the luck in the world Janice the master gardener program is something most all of us strive for and is a real learning experience. Is Sydney Brown still in charge there? She really knows her plant’s, and it wouldn’t surprise me to find out she is in Tallahassee in charge of all the m.c. program’s state wide by now! is the field trip date set yet? I am looking forward to it and so is my wife and she is asking for a firm date[so to ask for the day off] looking forward to meeting you all….......“Chip”...

Posted by (Janna) on September 29, 2009

Good luck on the MG program, Janice. I wouldn’t be surprised if you taught the class a thing or two!

Chip, the outing to Rick’s flower farm is planned for Saturday, October 31st. Glad to hear that you and your wife will be going!

Posted by (Chip) on September 29, 2009

My wife found a praying mantis walking across the parking lot of her work yesterday, she scoped it up and now is oh so very happy to call my corn it’s home YEA! she has named it waldo! looking right at it just blend’s right in. I fully expect it to be obese in a week so many bug’s it would be like a all you can eat buffet so maybe I should let it use my phone and call all it’s buddy’s or better yet it’s girl friend’s or boy friend’s [I don’t judge] and start a new pod please! Tree mart had a side walk sale last weekend and besides my blue berry bush’s my wife got some Amanda bush’s that are beautiful so now I have to move stuff around so it all will fit in and still my dead line loom’s “Chip”

Posted by (Chip) on September 29, 2009

Wow I didn’t know that! He would have to be sharp to keep up with Sidney she knows her stuff. My wife was in the M.G. program years ago and had to drop out because of work. I meet her briefly and was immediately impressed. So now I am really ready to go! I do believe if Sidney put a 2x4 in the ground a pine tree would grow…“Chip”..

Posted by (Chip) on September 29, 2009

Yep and everyone who knows me wonder’s why I sold my Truck! but Tree mart is close so she just make’s trip’s