I wandered about my bitty garden plot recently, mindful of the warm weather and lack of rain, to sprinkle some water on my little starter plants. They needed it. Very dry. :( We’re thinking about a couple of long weekends away this summer, visiting friends and family, so I need to get out my watering spikes. The orange plastic spikes attach to plastic 2L bottles of water (repurposed soda bottles). Stick them in or near the root ball of the plant; the water should dribble out as needed to keep the plant going until you can get a good soak in again.

Aunt Mommy: 0, Pests: 1

I was not happy at what I found in the garden aside from lack of water. The cucumber was almost eaten away completely on one plot. The stem was chewed near through, and the leaves were quite transparent. Some kind of harsh pest, so I’ll probably just dig the poor plant out and put it out of its misery. Hopefully, this will save the other plants in the immediate area.

Government Agents: ???

A recent visitor admired my efforts at gardening, but warned me that I should probably build greenhouses instead of having an open air garden. Apparently, if the pests don’t get you, the planes that fly over head will. Well, not you, just your plants that grow edible food.

“They” apparently use planes that fly overhead, releasing a chemical agent that looks like a grey fog in the morning. What gives it away is how it clings to spider’s webs. The agent kills all your edible crops, but according to my source “your roses are just fine!” I found the story quite intriguing, and as an eater of flowers, including roses, I decided not to point out that roses are edible, or dissuade them of any of their other … unique conspiracy theories.

But on the off hand there is anyone out there determined to thwart my plan to enjoy a somewhat edible garden again this summer, be they friendly nation, unfriendly nation, or jealous giant pharmaceutical and food company, rest assured that the borer beetles and cabbage loopers have got your back.