Pink and Green

 Happy Pink Saturday!

We planted Gladiolus bulbs (from Latin, the diminutive of gladius, a sword) during Spring Break and now they are blooming beautifully. Funny thing is that they look nothing like the photo on the package they came in! A few weeks ago I discovered the spear-like leaves covered in tiny black caterpillars. Not good! They were making holes in the leaves, so I mixed together one tablespoon of olive oil, one tablespoon of dish washing liquid and about 3 cups of water in a squirt bottle. I misted the leaves and that got rid of them.

 The gladiolus is the August birth flower and symbolizes sincerity and strength of character. 'Love at first' sight is what the hidden message of this flower was during the Victorian era. 

Speaking of garden pests, we spotted a shiny green metallic beetle on our dwarf lemon tree. When it flew it buzzed as loud as a bumble bee! I had never seen one of these Japanese Scarab, or Green Chafer, beetles before - his legs were glittering in the sunlight!

  Doing a quick Google search I learned that these beetles are considered a nuisance by farmers. He thoroughly enjoyed his visit to our lemon tree blossom.

It's Saturday and that means pancakes at our house. Hope you have a great day.

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Here a Seed, There A Seed~

Whew! We've been having Santa Ana Winds this week with warm temperatures. However, when we woke today they were gone and I hope we've seen the last of them until fall. For those of you not familiar with these irritating annual winds, they blow through southern California from fall through spring.

The National Weather Service defines Santa Ana winds as 'strong down slope winds that blow through the mountain passes from the high desert.' These winds, which can easily exceed 50 mph, are warm and dry and can severely exacerbate brush or forest fires.

We've lost roof tiles and window screens during the overnight howling gusts, and one year we awoke to find our backyard fence had been blown over! 

Since all was calm today, I decided to do some light gardening. I planted Pansy seed around the Poppies.

  Pansies have long been flowers of remembrance. Indeed, they have often been placed upon memorial markers.

 

Handyman lugged the potting soil out from the garage for me so I could plant some bulbs in our new rooster pot. I found this charming pot at JoAnn fabrics, of all places, and it was sixty percent off! Originally $34, I bought it for $13.99.

It has handles, which is unique, and also has a raised rooster on both sides. I planted Gladiolus bulbs in it. I think it would look fabulous full of Chrysanthemums in autumn, don't you?

I have a Gardening To Do list :

• plant Sweet Pea and Hollyhock seed
• plant Morning Glory and Four O' Clock seed
• add one or two plants to the Fairy garden (seen on the right, above)
• cut back spent Iris
• plant our old, non-working fountain with flowers
• clean bird baths
• decide if we are going to replace dying Jasmine vine or prune it and hope for the best

  

Named for the shape of their leaves, gladioli – from the Latin word “gladius,” meaning sword – have a history than spans from Africa to the Mediterranean.  Symbolizing strength and moral integrity, gladioli also represent infatuation.

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