Gardeners (and farmers) always face plant-growing challenges based on weather conditions and which wildlife and insects are currently thriving or struggling. Usually by late June I’ve got a pretty good handle on how the rest of the summer should play out.
This year the weeds are out of control because of the ample rain we’ve had. I pull and pull and pull, but the next day there are just hundreds more popping out of the ground.
I found the first Japanese Beetles last week on my roses. That’s about a week earlier than average. Last year their number was way down compared to past years, and I hope that trend continues.
Something has been chomping on the flower petals of many of my cosmos, zinnias and coneflowers, but I never see any insects. Some insects are even ravaging weeds. I don’t suppose they’d stick around and eat all my weeds away:
I have some unusual mutations occurring. Some of my ‘Indian Summer’ rudbeckia flowers have underdeveloped petals:
And last year I was so impressed with my ‘Mercury Rising’ Coreopsis plants that I bought 2 more this spring. I love the beautiful, ruby-red flowers, and the plants bloom for months and months.
But all the blooms on both of my new plants are either mottled or faded at the tips of the petals. I don’t think it’s a disease because the plants look perfectly healthy. Maybe it’s a genetic mutation or failure of some sort:
What’s really bugging me lately is that some creature (a raccoon perhaps?) is sneaking into the yard at night and digging up and eating all my species tulips. I’m starting to think the beast can read my plant markers because he isn’t just digging random holes, he’s zeroing in with laser focus on the areas where all the bulbs are hiding. I just never learn my lesson with tulips, do I?
So far I haven’t seen any widespread plant diseases or insect infestations. My turkey, Mrs. T, disappeared shortly after I blogged about her, so I never had to worry about baby turkeys strutting around my yard with an overprotective mother.
My biggest win is that I haven’t spotted a rabbit in my yard since last fall. We have foxes regularly roaming our neighborhood now, and I’m guessing I have them to thank for the huge drop in plant munchers.
