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The Garden Awakens

Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Back to the bagworms

I was looking at my blog statistics and I noticed that a lot of visitors got here by typing "bagworms" in their search query. Now is the time that they raise their ugly heads and damage becomes very noticeable. I wrote a post last year about my experiences with them. Fortunately, I have not seen any on my evergreens this year.  However, there is a Leland Cypress hedge across the street from us and I could clearly see the telltale brown dying branches and the disgusting bagworms hanging from them. This is a rental property and last year they had to cut down a row of Leland Cypress on the opposite side of the property. You can spray with Malathion now although it is more effective is done earlier in the spring when eggs are being laid. Hand picking is also effective but sometimes this might not be practicable if the plants are too large. Whatever method you choose, you must take action or else the plants will soon be toast. For more information, refer to my previous post.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. greggoJuly 12, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    I guess it good to be famous for something. lol

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  2. DarlaJuly 13, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    I just posted in my post before last my very first bagworm cocoon, hadn't a clue what they were....it was hanging on one of my climbing roses.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deborah Younglao, Silk PainterJuly 13, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    We seem to get them every other year, on one particular oak tree. Just noticed the first one yesterday, so I guess we're in for them this year. What gets me is that the critters themselves are so tiny! Why do they need to build such a big house?

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  4. Rob (ourfrenchgarden)July 16, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    These sound like a real pain in the arse.

    Good news that you don't seem to have any this year. Hope it stays that way.

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