Container combination

Coleus "Defiance" and Variegated Plectranthus (Swedish Ivy)



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Bagworms

The name sounds disgusting, doesn't it? Actually, they don't look that menacing when you see them on the plant. In fact, they can be easily mistaken for a cone or part of a plant. Don't be misled though - these devious critters are highly destructive and can kill a plant before you realize what has happened. There are different types of bagworms but the evergreen bagworm is the one addressed here. It is prevalent in the eastern U.S. and attacks evergreens such as arborvitae, red cedar, junipers, etc. Even decidious trees are vulnerable, however, damage is minimal to them because they shed their leaves.

This is what they can do -




Bagworms are actually the larvae of a moth. They are 1-2 inches long and made up of silk and bits of dead foliage and twigs. During the summer months, a caterpillar resides inside. He sticks his nasty head out to consume plant foliage and retreats when disturbed. He carries the bag around with him as he munches and the bag gets bigger and bigger. By late August, he stops feeding and a pupa forms inside the bag. A moth emerges from the pupa. The female moths stays inside the bag. The male flies to bags containing the females and they mate. The female then lays 300-1000 eggs in the bag and then she promptly dies. The eggs hatch the following May and early June and the whole vicious cycle starts over again.

You can control them by spraying an insecticide but this has to be done in May and early June to be effective. The larvae are so small, most gardeners don't see them until the bags start to form. Feeding slows in August so spraying doesn't do any good after that.

Hand picking them is another alternative. Of course, if it is a large tree, that option might be out of the question.

A few years ago, I noticed bagworms on our Colorado Blue Spruce. I picked them off and never saw them again. This year I've noticed them on the junipers out next to the street. This morning I spent an hour picking them off and tossing them into the road where I envision car tires squishing the disgusting buggers to kingdom come.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

The late July garden

There is not much to report as far as blooms are concerned but due to some generous rainfalls during the past week, the garden is green and not as tired looking as it normally is this time of year. The heat and humidity, coupled with drought, is not a pretty picture. Of course, things would look better if I were out weeding, but this time of year I'm doing good to just get out and take photos.



























Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Salvia "Black and Blue"

Salvia 'Black and Blue' (Salvia guaranitica) (aka Blue Anise Sage, Brazilian Sage, Sapphire Sage)

There are more varieties of salvia than you can shake a stick at and I love them all but if I could only choose one, this would be it. Salvia 'Black and Blue' is named for the color of the flowers - cobalt blue flowers that emerge from jet black calyces. These tubular flowers persist throughout the summer (plants can be sheared in mid-summer for fall bloom) and it is one of the top favorites of hummingbirds. Although the flowers are the star attraction, the foliage itself is quite nice. Light green fuzzy leaves are strongly scented with a sage-like fragrance. This salvia is considered somewhat tender but it has overwintered in my garden for the past four years. Mulch it heavily during the winter months and be sure you grow it in well-drained soil - wet feet will certainly kill it during the winter months. (Cameron at Defining Your Home, Garden & Travel advises not cutting the stems back during the winter months). It will spread but not to the point of invasiveness. Share it and enjoy!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy