And then there was Broccoli!

Kids are Funny

Sometimes kids are funny because they are kids and they do weird kid stuff.  But sometimes they are funny because they are truly clever and just... funny.

When my daughter and I released the 1500 ladybugs the other morning, she came in from checking on them and said, "I named one David, but now I can't find him.  I think I'm just going to name them all Mark." So, we had 1500 ladybugs named Mark.

The next morning, all the ladybugs had flown off, and there was one left.  Leila said, "Well, at least we still have Mark!"

So what do I do if I've unleashed 1500 ladybugs named Mark to take care of the 500 aphids on my broccoli, and they all fly the coop?  Money well spent...

There are a number of things wrong...

I seemed to have made it through the entire summer without pests, but now they are here.  With a vengeance.  I went to the garden store and bought: Sluggo, for the slug problem, some Bt for the catepillar problem, some nitrogen rich fertilizer, and 1500 ladybugs to take care of all those aphids.  Here is what I learned:

This is what aphids look like.  Ew.

If there are holes in the middle of the leaf, those are made my slugs and snails. 
If the holes are on the edges of the leaf, those are caterpillars.  I am fortunate enough to have both...

I just noticed

that my dog is using the dead corn as something to life his leg over.  Sorry, corn.  That's no way to go.

The Good News and the Bad News

R.I.P. Corn...

But check out this bumper crop of lemon cucumbers and tomatoes, with a couple of peppers thrown in!

You Know What?

I think I need a whole second bed for lettuce.  I just don't have any room for lettuce in my current bed, and lettuce is the whole reason I did the bed in the first place.  Let's see: where to put a second bed...

Whoa #2.

I found two more of those zucchinis today, and more green beans than anyone can eat.  Anyone have any ideas about what to do with three foot-long zooks?