The 2024 Gardening Thread

[IzzysfureverMom]

Yesterday I saw the first japanese beetle of the year.

But today I saw the first monarch of the year. Picture is a bit unfocused, as I didn't want to get too close.

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Very nice! I hardly ever see a Monarch here anymore. We do get a lot of Swallowtails

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

Very nice! We don't get to many Monarchs here anymore. We do get a lot of Swallowtails.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

I have been seeing a lot of butterflies this summer since only planting flowers. That and all the colorful blooms really are making me happy when I look out into the backyard!

 

[nurseangel]

Beautiful , and ! I usually put out bee balm and it brings them in like wild. This year, I couldn't, but maybe next. Pretty sure bee balm is a perennial, but almost everything I set out becomes an annual.

Don't worry about the Japanese beetles. They are all over my blueberry bush. I won't press charges against anyone here that took one. We'll just say you borrowed him, okay? I have enough for everyone. I guess I'll share. It's rude not to, right?

 

[rubysmama]

My little friend kept flying around all afternoon. Here's another pic. The monarch is on the milkweed. The pink flowers to the left are phlox. The purple/blue is a hydrangea. And the pink to the left of that is bee balm.

 

[Kris107]

Since I last posted, I have seen exactly one (1) additional beetle, which doesn't bother me even a little. There has been, however, a dearth of hummingbirds, such that Michele took down the feeders for lack of use. Others, though, have seen normal numbers of them; just not us. The gladiolas are coming on strong, so maybe that will draw them in. Only time will tell

I only had one resident hummingbird this year, much to my chagrin. I have planted a lot of flowers specifically to attract them, but doesn't always work. Last year I think I had 2-3 residents. But, depending on where you are at, they should be starting migration soon so you may get some different ones coming through. The other day I had a male rufous visit my feeders. My neighbor's hollyhocks are a bit lacking this year so and that has always helped with numbers, so I'm not holding my breath.

 

[nurseangel]

Years ago, back when we got snow, I saw my first hummingbird ever. I had put out bird seed on the deck and the cardinals, finches and lots of other birds were gathered around excited to have something to eat. A single hummingbird showed up, hovering over. I felt terrible because I didn't have anything to give him. I don't know why he was here in the middle of winter, but I guess he missed what DH and I call the Big Journey (in reference to the long migration.)

 

[Kris107]

Years ago, back when we got snow, I saw my first hummingbird ever. I had put out bird seed on the deck and the cardinals, finches and lots of other birds were gathered around excited to have something to eat. A single hummingbird showed up, hovering over. I felt terrible because I didn't have anything to give him. I don't know why he was here in the middle of winter, but I guess he missed what DH and I call the Big Journey (in reference to the long migration.)

That's surprising but it happens sometimes! Can you imagine - being that bird and wondering where everyone went and being late? Hopefully it ended up making it to warmer territory! They can die in cold weather!

 

[NY cat man]

I saw another Monarch flitting among the coneflowers, butterfly weed, and phlox. That makes two more than I saw all of last year. And I still haven't seen any aphids yet.

 

[nurseangel]

My blueberry bush. Can you see the beetle damage? 🪲 Ick! A beetle emoji came up.

And there is a bird nest in my gazebo. It's empty. I hope the babies have just already gone and the snake didn't get them.

 

[denice]

MSN

I have been reading this thread even though I rent an apartment so I don't garden. I just saw this. It says that catnip can help repel Japanese beetles. Of course it will also attract many of the free roaming cats in the area.

 

[rubysmama]

I saw another Monarch flitting among the coneflowers, butterfly weed, and phlox. That makes two more than I saw all of last year. And I still haven't seen any aphids yet.

I didn't see any at all last year either. Hopefully we'll both see more in the next days and weeks. I haven't noticed any aphids either, but I don't usually have a big problem with them.

MSN

I have been reading this thread even though I rent an apartment so I don't garden. I just saw this. It says that catnip can help repel Japanese beetles. Of course it will also attract many of the free roaming cats in the area.

Oh, that's interesting Might have to plant some. I think Catnip is invasive though, so might need to put it in pots.

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

I only had one resident hummingbird this year, much to my chagrin. I have planted a lot of flowers specifically to attract them, but doesn't always work. Last year I think I had 2-3 residents. But, depending on where you are at, they should be starting migration soon so you may get some different ones coming through. The other day I had a male rufous visit my feeders. My neighbor's hollyhocks are a bit lacking this year so and that has always helped with numbers, so I'm not holding my breath.

I had a ton of hummingbirds last year starting early spring even though it got very hot they stuck around. Planted even more plants for them this year but haven't seen one. The feeder remained unused filled and refilled but no visitors Maybe late summer they'll come through.

 

[nurseangel]

The hummingbirds just buzz around my yard like nobody's business! I haven't seen any this year, but we haven't put out a feeder. It gets so hot and we worry about the food going sour. I guess they come for the flowers and hopefully the gnats. I have an irrational fear of gnats since watching an episode of Monsters Inside Me and saw a poor little boy who was walking to the school bus and slapped a gnat that was in his eye. It laid an egg upon death and he lost sight in that eye. Now I am terrified of them. I normally don't kill bugs, either Bob or my girls take them down without my knowledge or I have DH carry them outside in a cup that stays under the sink for just that purpose.

Can anyone get a good look at that bird's nest in my previous picture? I don't think I have ever seen a nest with such large building materials. It must have been a race of super birds.

And when we had our Bradford pear trees trimmed and topped, I found a hummingbird nest in the wreckage. It was tiny. I'd never seen one. The tree man immediately started apologizing, but it was empty. We try to plan major yard work when it will not hurt wildlife, so I think it is safe to say they were already long gone. I gave the nest to my dad, who took it to the flea market as a conversation piece. A child wanted it so much, however, that he gave it to him. The hummingbird nest found a happy home.

 

[NY cat man]

This has been a strange growing season. We have some of the butterfly weed with seed pods that are almost 3" long, and others that are just starting to flower. Same with their cousins, the milkweed- some have seed pods, while others haven't flowered yet.
The greenery on my potatoes is dying back, so they should be about ready to harvest soon. The green beans have also pretty much run their course, while the tomatoes are starting to ripen. I also have been pulling some of the carrots, and the beets are almost ready to pull.

 

[Kris107]

Love that it's becoming harvest time!

nurseangel I saw my first hummingbird nest IRL yesterday. Very cool. I can't tell from the pic about your nest. They will sometimes reuse nests so maybe they'll return one day!

 

[MoochNNoodles]

The goldfinches have discovered my cosmos and zinnia and are loving them! And I am watching them. Hopefully soon the sunflowers will bloom so I can see the full effect of what I dreamed about when planting the beds. They are WAY taller than expected!

I am missing the veggie harvests. I need to find a local farm stand for some good tomatoes. I need a good tomato sandwich! Maybe even BLTs if they have fresh lettuce.

 

[nurseangel]

Aw, I love goldfinches. I was wondering why my phone was trying to capitalize the word and make single instead of plural. Then I remembered it was a Pullitzer Prize winning novel. The Goldfinch.

We almost went broke with the goldfinches one year. I saw one in the yard and looked him up in the bird book. I bought a feeding sock full of thistle seeds. Suddenly, they were coming out of the woodwork. I ordered a 36" feeder and there was a goldfinch at every feeding station. To be so little, they eat a lot.

It looks like we have another storm rolling in. It's so dark out to be 2:20 EST. I almost believe I heard distant thunder.

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

The goldfinches have discovered my cosmos and zinnia and are loving them! And I am watching them. Hopefully soon the sunflowers will bloom so I can see the full effect of what I dreamed about when planting the beds. They are WAY taller than expected!

I am missing the veggie harvests. I need to find a local farm stand for some good tomatoes. I need a good tomato sandwich! Maybe even BLTs if they have fresh lettuce.

Love Love a good tomato sandwich I have huge purple echinacea that are just about done blooming now but we had many goldfinch that were perched on top of them. I couldn't get close enough to get a photo without them flying away but it was a site.

 

[denice]

I grew up on a farm and we always had a big garden. The things I miss the most from the garden are tomatoes, fresh ears of corn, strawberries, and Black Diamond Watermelon.