I have always enjoyed growing vegetables and fruits. The first garden was on Goose Lane in the mid 1960's. The owner had used organic gardening techniques which appealed to me and suggested I read Ruth Stout's book, No Work Garden Book which is still available! I figured if Ms. Stout could have a big garden at 80 I could too.
I don't remember what we planted only that I loved working in the soil, watching seeds sprout into plants and enjoyed the fruits of our labors.
This winter the house was filled with flats of seedlings. As the weather moderated the flats were moved into the greenhouse then back in the afternoon. Now the plants are all in the gardens.
The Victory Garden which gets a lot of sun and has tomatoes, cantaloupe, squash, pumpkins and companion herbs.
The Back Forty (feet) is home to potatoes, carrots, beets, peas (which are ready to pick), beans, cabbage, cauliflower and companion herbs.
The Upper Great Wall of Annisquam Garden which gets lots of sun is home to lavender, feverfew, chamomile, pennyroyal, yarrow, bergamot, beebalm and a few flowers. The lower garden has more tomatoes, companion herbs and peony.
The Old Kitchen Garden has a wonderful clump of rhubarb in the center which has yielded several pies and sauce. it is surrounded by lemon thyme, a variegated thyme, arnica, angelica, st. johnswort, clary sage, german thyme, sage, dill, hyssop, basil, horseradish, wild onion, globe thistle, valerian, greek oregano and calendula.
And below the well: celery, leeks, several kinds of lettuce and meclun greens.
Showing posts with label pennyroyal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pennyroyal. Show all posts
6.29.2008
6.24.2008
Attracting Beneficial Insects to Your Garden
Because of the reduction in the bee population, it is more important than ever to invite bees and other insects to your garden to help with pollination and insert control. The following article, written by Mike McGoarty of freeplants.com offers many opportunities to do just that!
by Mike McGroarty
There are a variety of common plants and flowers that attract beneficial insects. Beneficial insects are not only attracted to plants which are infected with their insect prey, but they also tend to be selective about the plants on which they lay their eggs. Many beneficial insects also spend part of their lives surviving on the nectar and pollen of their favorite plants. Ideally, your garden plants will provide food, shelter and a nursery for beneficial insects. Some of these plants may already be in your garden.
Caterpillars, leafhoppers, beetles, moths and grubs are attacked by tiny parasitic wasps. Because they are so tiny themselves, parasitic wasps prefer tiny flowers when they want a drink of sweet nectar. Parasitic wasps will frequent a garden that features some yarrow, dill, parsley, Queen Ann's Lace or tansy. These umbrella-shaped flowers are very attractive to a number of beneficial insects.
Green lacewings and ladybugs will also appreciate the same umbrella-shaped flowers. They also like cosmos, prairie sunflower and even dandelions and alfalfa. Lacewings prefer to lay their eggs in shady areas that are protected from the weather. They'll be happy to find some of their favorite plants in a quiet, protected corner of the garden.
Various herbs are attractive to some beneficial insects. Adding some herbs here and there amongst your flowers or vegetables will surely lure some beneficial insects to work in your garden. Lemon balm, pennyroyal, spearmint and parsley will attract hoverflies, parasitic wasps and tachinid flies. Tachinid flies look like hairy house flies and they lay their eggs on caterpillars which can do a lot of damage in a garden. Tachinid fly larvae will destroy corn earworms, cabbage worms, armyworms, and other fly larvae.
Providing the proper plants for food and shelter is just one step toward attracting beneficial insects to your garden. The most important thing to do to encourage beneficial insects in your garden is to stop using chemical pesticides. Chemical pesticides are not selective and will kill both harmful and beneficial insects. Many organic insecticides are selective and when used properly, will not harm the beneficial insects.
by Mike McGroarty
There are a variety of common plants and flowers that attract beneficial insects. Beneficial insects are not only attracted to plants which are infected with their insect prey, but they also tend to be selective about the plants on which they lay their eggs. Many beneficial insects also spend part of their lives surviving on the nectar and pollen of their favorite plants. Ideally, your garden plants will provide food, shelter and a nursery for beneficial insects. Some of these plants may already be in your garden.
Caterpillars, leafhoppers, beetles, moths and grubs are attacked by tiny parasitic wasps. Because they are so tiny themselves, parasitic wasps prefer tiny flowers when they want a drink of sweet nectar. Parasitic wasps will frequent a garden that features some yarrow, dill, parsley, Queen Ann's Lace or tansy. These umbrella-shaped flowers are very attractive to a number of beneficial insects.
Green lacewings and ladybugs will also appreciate the same umbrella-shaped flowers. They also like cosmos, prairie sunflower and even dandelions and alfalfa. Lacewings prefer to lay their eggs in shady areas that are protected from the weather. They'll be happy to find some of their favorite plants in a quiet, protected corner of the garden.
Various herbs are attractive to some beneficial insects. Adding some herbs here and there amongst your flowers or vegetables will surely lure some beneficial insects to work in your garden. Lemon balm, pennyroyal, spearmint and parsley will attract hoverflies, parasitic wasps and tachinid flies. Tachinid flies look like hairy house flies and they lay their eggs on caterpillars which can do a lot of damage in a garden. Tachinid fly larvae will destroy corn earworms, cabbage worms, armyworms, and other fly larvae.
Providing the proper plants for food and shelter is just one step toward attracting beneficial insects to your garden. The most important thing to do to encourage beneficial insects in your garden is to stop using chemical pesticides. Chemical pesticides are not selective and will kill both harmful and beneficial insects. Many organic insecticides are selective and when used properly, will not harm the beneficial insects.
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