Re: Bloom season: with a whimper

A post I could have written.  And comes remarkably close to a private post
of mine.

However, there are bright spots.  For one thing, there are so many irises
growing here now that enough are blooming or going to bloom that it still
makes a nice show.  Especially if I put out of mind what it might have been
without that freeze.  It's always nice to see seedlings and things that
haven't bloomed before in bloom, even if they aren't blooming in top form.
The seedlings that bloomed so well for me last year are blooming like crazy.
You'd never know by looking at them how many bloom fans I've removed.  And
more of this years' crop are making blooms than I have any right to expect.
May not be the best move for either.  I'm busy red-flagging many for removal
to the compost pile as soon as that bloom is finished.

Just an odd year altogether.  TWIST OF FATE has picked this year to bloom
really well.  Now this has been an unpredictable performer in the best of
times, so why this year?  GOOD SHOW, now in its sixth year here also has two
bloom stalks - the first I've ever seen.  TOF looks great now, but GS may
get cooked unless the weather cools off.  The trend here is hotter and
drier.  They just keep taking the rain out of the forecast.  It sure is
needed.  Probably I'll see some dried up buds on the later ones rather than
bloom.  Unlike Linda, I don't select for ML and L varieties.  They really
aren't as likely to have as good bloom as E and EM due to the excessive heat
and dry air, despite the likelihood of late freeze damage that get the Es
and EMs.

The cutworm problem finally solved itself, thank goodness.  Those smelly,
black ammonia beetles and some big iridescent green beetles are now
plentiful.  Constructed with wicked pinchers just right to pinch a finger or
grab hold of a cutworm and finish it off.  They apparently have voracious
appetites, too, because I can't hardly find a cutworm now.  At least this
year I'm not having to rescue the ugly critters at work and bring them home.
Maybe I've built up my own herd.  They just should have got going somewhat
earlier this year, but the cutworms got a major head start so were able to
damage a lot things.  Anyone have any ideas on the names of these useful
beetles, albeit rather fierce looking ones?

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7b, USA






------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Stock for $4
and no minimums.
FREE Money 2002.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/2gGylB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index