Friday, July 20, 2007

Letting the Garden Go


I've been falling down on my picture taking/posting responsibilities.
Last week I discovered Tomato Hornworms on the volunteer cherry tomatoes that have spread across my garden. I was incensed, or something like that. Look how this one has stripped the tomato of its upper leaves. I did not save their lives. I fed them to the goats. They're sneaky, though. They look just like the tomato plants. However, this week I was delighted to find that some insect was laying their eggs on them, Braconid Wasps, I found out. Everyone should have a garden to enjoy, an organic one, of course.

7 comments:

Jennifer said...

Ahh yes, the hornworms. I had tons the first year, one last year and luckily the wasp laid eggs on it too. This year I planted oodles of sacrificial dill and lots of marigold around and throughout the garden. No hornworms. Am upset though that all my squash was killed by squash bugs. I still haven't figured out how to organically oust them. Lots of cucumbers too. Need any? Oh and peppers, sweet and hot.

naoko fujimoto said...

I like the yellow chair.

Charmi said...

Jennifer - I don't have squash bugs, but I do have Honey Pie the chicken. There could be a corrolation.

Naoko - Does that mean you're not fond of the tomato bug ;-) Jojo says they're too ugly to look at, but I don't know.

David Dodd Lee said...

Always a crisis to me, since I don't know if I love the plant or the caterpillar more. One year
when I found swallowtail larvae
feeding on my carrots I ran around
excited as a child who just got a new bike. I always try to plant extra for our painted winged friends. Moth or butterfly, I don't care which . . .

Charmi said...

Now I feel bad for feeding those other two to the goats! Especially since I have more volunteer cherry tomatoes than anyone really needs. I guess I should look up what these fellas/gals turn into.

Jennifer said...

i also had these beautiful moths all over the garden last year. I didn't think much of it, but when I was looking up squash bugs in a book I saw all my beautiful moths and discovered they were not just beautiful but eating my plants. how disappointing. maybe i could get a "guard-en" chicken.

SERIOUSLY, WHO WANTS CUCUMBERS?

Charmi said...

Yes, I want cukes. Bring them on Thursday night to the writers' thing. I planted mine late and they're still just baby plants at this point.

See, the whole thing is there is too much to know! I don't know who turns into what or anything. There is a wonderful sounding bird in the canopy of the tree outside my window and I have no idea what bird it is. I amaze myself every day with how little I know.