the invasion

About this time last year, we began the process of building a greenhouse.


(photo is before paint...we do not have a striped greenhouse.)

Our hope was to over winter many of our annual plants that usually end up on the compost pile each year.

Construction took forever, but with much begging and pleading on my part, our contractor was able to get it done enough to put the plants inside the day of the big freeze, and then construction continued with my little plants covered in sawdust. Actually, construction is still not complete, but we all know the best projects are the ones that take over a year to finish. Right?

Sorry for the construction rabbit trail, I'll get back to the greenhouse. And if I ever start talking about a new construction related project, will you please remind me that I have filled my quota for a lifetime and am not allowed any more? Because I seem to easily forget how much I hate having a construction related project at or in my home.

I don't understand how quickly I can forget how much I hate construction.

I hate construction.

Okay, now back to the greenhouse for real this time.

There's been a bit of a learning curve, but so far, almost everyone has survived.

Some plants have really thrived.


We also saved a couple tomato plants.


This is the first of many times I will rave about Sun Sugar tomatoes. Not to be confused with it's much more common cousin, Sun Gold. I have grown every cherry tomato known to man, but this one, in my humble opinion, outshines them all by a mile. So unbelievably sweet.

Sun Sugar....get you one...or ten.

So, the greenhouse is plugging along, it's a nice place to visit on a cold winter day, and a reminder that spring is right around the corner. What could be more wonderful, right?

But....all is not as it seems.

Evil lurks within.


Aphids.

Aphids are a very common greenhouse problem. This particular flower was under all out attack. Most of the plants are not nearly this popular with the green guys. We tried a few natural remedies that kind of beat back the little buggers, but never got rid of them all the way. A friend recommended "beneficial insects", and thank goodness ladybugs were at the top of the aphid predator list. I'm not much of a bug person, but I do adore ladybugs. And dragonflies. But that's about it.

Today, the FedEx man delivered....


He also told a story about his buddy who delivered ladybugs last week, but the box broke and he had 1500 ladybugs all over his FedEx truck. He thought that was pretty darn funny.

So, this afternoon, we set our new friends free, with high predatory hopes and dreams.



And, the icing on the aphid cake, this little guy, within seconds of being released, made straight for the first perp he came across.


Go forth and devour, my little polka dotted friends.