Bugs, Weeds, Rabbits and Colors

 

RAIN! WE GOT RAIN LAST NIGHT!

Today we woke up to cloudy skies and MORE RAIN!
We weren't sure if we'd be able to get into the garden or not, but after the last couple of summers we won't complain about rain!

 As it turned out, we did get into the garden. We're getting to the time of year when we're doing basic maintenance care - pulling weeds (nobody's favorite job), continuing to lay newspaper and mulch, and finishing signs in our animal plant space.



We talked about pests in the garden - bugs, weeds, and this year our biggest pest...rabbits.

Next year we'll make little fences around everything to discourage the rabbits who have happily feasted on many tender little plants this year.

As for insects, we talked about beneficial insects and looked at pictures. We recognized some of them, and were surprised that some are insects that we would have thought were harmful to our plants. One of the

favorites, because of the name, is the   Assassin Bug.

Using insecticides will control problem insects, but kills indiscriminately and will also kill beneficial insects. We talked about home-made remedies, knocking the munchers off the plants and the help of insects who prey on the insects who eat the garden.

We also talked about the benefits of bio-diversity in the garden to invite in the helpful insects, and planting to take advantage of plants that help discourage harmful insects.

As for weeds, again we could use a chemical, but are using less lethal methods. We pick weeds, put down newspaper and mulch, and use raised beds.              

Making signs for the catmint and tickseed coreopsis

In our relationship discussion we filled out a personality assessment that     describes personalities by color. It was fun to discover the differences in our personalities, and to guess who in our families fit which color.                                 

Those different traits can "bug" us,  we can be think the other person is a "pest", but understanding the different personality styles can be helpful in building healthy relationships. Instead of reacting in anger we can learn to appreciate the strengths of another.

We're thankful for the rain, and for the varied colors of our personalities that make life full and fun!

Here's a link to a fun website with tons of info on beneficial insects - happy bugging!
http://www.kathimitchell.com/insects.html

Here's some info on personality traits,how your personality can grow/change and how your personality can affect others:

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-personality-traits.html 

Boundaries

July 7, 2013


Our focus for today was "boundaries." We have some boundaries in the garden...the large planters and rocks that define part of the garden space, the edging in parts of the garden, the pathway, and the raised beds. But boy, do we need more of them in the garden! It's hard to see in this picture, but there is a little stick - it's what's left of a cucumber plant in the top of one of the bags. A few days ago there were 6 or 7 cucumber plants around the top. Now, there's one little stick.


Rabbits have nibbled on the corn and there are a few tender, young corn stalks completely gone.


What we've learned is that next year we  need more boundaries - a short fence around 

the corn, and chicken wire over every tender, little sprout!



For the time being, we have happy rabbits, and a challenge to get creative to fill in the blank spaces.

Stephanie found a great project for flowers that critters won't be able to eat. They're made out of soda cans. They shine in the sunlight and move with the breeze. 

 It was fun and fairly easy. We have some creative double blooms,
fancy petal shapes and centers made from glass or wooden beads, or a circle cut out of the aluminum can. Attaching the flowers to the dowel stems was a little challenging, but with a little experimenting we got it done!

       

Even our youngest visitors got it done with a little help from grandpa and grandma.

                                                   

TA DA!

                

Lisa, from DOVES led a discussion about the importance of boundaries in our relationships. She told us that each person has a right to determine their own boundaries and that they need to communicate those to others. 

She led us through an exercise to demonstrate that each person has different boundaries - and that's ok!

So, week 5 of Hands for Growing, 2013. Early rain that kept us out of the garden and hungry rabbits have slowed us down a bit, but with good humor, work, play and creativity we see the growth of our garden and our friendships.

  

For more on boundaries in relationships go to:   http://www.pamf.org/teen/abc/buildingblocks/boundaries.html

 

 

Want to see a BUNCH of creative garden boundary ideas?

https://www.google.com/search?q=creative+garden+edging+ideas&rlz=1C1RNNN_enUS366US545&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wtTnUdCNM-zUyQG3-IHYCA&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=617



Recognizing Signs

June 26, 2013

Today we worked on making signs to identify plants in the "animal named plants" section. In that section we have zebra grass, bee balm, horseradish (we hope! We're waiting for the root to sprout.), catmint, sea urchin grass (blue fescue), tickseed coreopsis, dusty miller, buffalo grass, tiny dino lilies, songbird bunting columbine, lambs ear, snapdragons and hens & chicks.                     

We hope to create a more welcoming garden by making the signs to identify plants.

Speaking of animals, there were 2 rabbits in the garden when I arrived. They were pretty bold in how close they let me get! They did finish off the young cantaloupe. It's getting too late in the season to find more plants so we'll have to get creative in that part of the garden. Pinterest, here we come!