January 27, 2010

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.

30 comments:

  1. I hope it works quickly for you. I was just watching a gardening show the other day where they released a ton of ladybirds and the aphids were taken care of very quickly.

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  2. Yay for little ladybugs!! :-) And I love your greenhouse!

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  3. What a great buffet for the ladybugs! Oh to have a greenhouse would be a great thing. Wish I had the room.

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  4. Your green house looks like it should be in a fairy tale. Lady Bugs are so great!! Cute and helpful....too bad they don't do construction!!
    Annette

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  5. Cute little buggers...the only bugs I like...maybe it is because they are polka dotted...I'm dotty for dots. :)

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  6. You Go Ladybugs!!!! I hate aphids...hate them! I bet since the ladybugs can't leave your problem will be gone in no time! Very good idea!

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  7. WE JUST BUILT A HOME...I HATE CONSTRUCTION TOO! I WISH I HAD SUCH A CUTE GREENHOUSE..THIS IS THE CUTEST ONE I HAVE SEEN. SO FUNNY ABOUT THE APHIDS AND THE FED X TRUCK! I HATE THESE BUGS TOO, I USED TO HAVE 39 ROSE BUSHES BEFORE WE MOVED AND THESE LITTLE BUGGERS WOULD GET ON THEM LIKE NO BODIES BUSINESS! SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE LADY BUGS WORKED OUT! COME SAY HI :D

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  8. That second to last photo is amazing!!!!!

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  9. What a beautiful greenhouse you have. I kind a like the stripes...it´s cute. I would love to see more of your greenhouse in the spring.

    Wow, I did not know that the ladybugs took care of business :)

    Have a nice day,
    Sanna

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  10. Girl, your house just keeps getting better and better. A greenhouse!? Love it. I could send you some more ladybugs if you want, my house is still crawling with them. I worked at a greenhouse for a few years. I hate aphids...and I especially hate mealybugs. Ugh. Lovely photos as usual....well, except the buggy ones.

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  11. Your greenhouse makes my heart beat fast! I want one. Or I at least want to come see yours. It's gorgeous. Even unpainted. Love the lady bugs, such a pretty solution.

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  12. I live in Florida moving to Montana in about 1 year. I will have a greenhouse. It never accured to me that I can grow in the winter with a greenhouse. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  13. i love it! makes lady bugs that much better... lucky, lucky to have a greenhouse.

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  14. Well, I never thought I'd enjoy a post on bugs, but there you go! I would love a greenhouse but here in suburbia there is no room, sadly. I go visit some of the North Shore mansions nearby that have open greenhouses, breathe in that warm air, and think of spring!

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  15. Teresa, LOVE your green house! Meadowbrood Farm look's like a little slice of heaven. Makes me want to move back to Montana...never mind all my family still living there (haha) Thanks for sharing it. I use lady bugs in my rose garden...they make it a better place :) Good luck!
    Nancy

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  16. Beautiful pictures and I love that greenhouse!
    We have a ladybug invastion every year in our house. I think they pick a place to gather and then send out greetings to others and before you know it we have hundreds of them oozing our of our ceiling and walls. (very old house with no insulation). It's a good problem to have though.

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  17. Why do you do this to me? You need to put a disclaimer on posts like these! Seriously - your greenhouse pains me...in a good way. It's making me covetous...in a bad way. What other little surprises do you have up your sleeve? An on-site salsa factory? A pineapple tree? A one-man vacation cabin for RL?

    ps- Do you use a tripod? It seems so cumbersome when Cory drags his out...but you're taking some mighty fine action shots.

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  18. Oh, my Spring dreams keep getting bigger and grander...
    Oh dear.

    Go ladybugs!!!

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  19. Those ladybugs look so sweet and innocent ... until that last photo! They must be hungry after that long car ride. :-) -amy

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  20. OK, I was going to post about the wonderful greenhouse and plants, but I first must comment on that last photo -- BAA! OK, that was frighteningly hilarious. Great picture.

    OK, now about your greenhouse...it is wonderful. I love it. That is a someday dream of ours, too...I can hardly imagine it -- fresh tomatoes and basil all winter long? Fresh flowers that I didn't pay an arm and a leg for at the grocery store, but went to my greenhouse and snipped?? Sounds like a dream come true. Terrific.

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  21. That is just so awesome! The natural way is just always better!! God didn't make a single mistake in the circle of life!! How cool! A greenhouse would be so delightful!!
    Blessings,
    Becky

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  22. What a gorgeous greenhouse!!! And how incredible your pictures are!!! Wow!!! I cant believe you got that many ladybugs in the mail! Too funny, and FANTASTIC!!! LOVE your blog!!! :)

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  23. That made me a little queasy, even if they are just bugs. Reminds me of National Geographic or something. :)

    But the greenhouse looks great!

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  24. #1. I could LIVE in your green house...it has more style and class than the house we just bought
    #2. I LOVE this little bug shots...we think of lady bugs as the sweetest, darling little things...here they are attacking the enemy..LOVE it!

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  25. Hopefully the benefits of the ladybugs...aka asian beetles outweigh the aphid problem. Aphids are also a huge concern for soybean growers and asian beetles usually do the trick as well. BUT...when the soybeans get harvested the beetles have no where to go but into our houses and make a huge oozing orange mess everywhere and give off a musty smell. GOOD Luck!

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  26. Your greenhouse is dreamy...just love it! I dream of flowers, lot's of them... Hydrangeas, peonies, gardenias, none of which grow in AZ :( You are a lucky lady, it looks like you can grow ANYTHING!! And yes, I'm jealous! Really enjoy your blog!

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  27. That picture of your greenhouse is making me crazy with 'greenhouse envy'. It's so beautiful and in that setting?... wow! I love your ladybug pics as well...oh, and that tomato? Makes me long for summer!

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  28. Beautiful greenhouse & pictures! I am an agriculture education major so I love all things related to the greenhouse industry! Question for you, did you have the plans for your greenhouse or was it something your builder came up with. Its beautiful & I want one for my house =)

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  29. I love the last photo! (And all the others.) Who could imagine mercenaries could come so smartly dressed. :)

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  30. Wow - I feel like I'm watching a Nat Geo documentary. Great pictures!

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