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Lady Bugs Everywhere!

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On Tuesday I spent some time outside in the garden with my husband. It was a nice Autumn day reaching about 16 Celsius (60 F) – warm compared to the last two weeks!

My husband was busy fixing a storage area and I’d come outside to take some photos of my fall blooming flowers – Monkshood, and Toad Lilies in particular. Much to my amazement I noticed that there were Lady Bugs everywhere!

I mean, hundreds … maybe even thousands!

I guess the warmer weather drew them out. I’ve noticed that this happens at least once every fall, but most often in September. However I haven’t seen this many lady bugs in one day in a few years!

We had to shake them off every time we went into the house! I’m sure we brought a few in with us.

I wish they’d come out like that in June or early July when the aphids are eating my new rose buds!

This past summer was so cool that I don’t recall even seeing any lady bugs until August when we started getting our normal hot humid days that had been missing in July and part of June.

It rained most of the day yesterday so I didn’t see any lady bugs – but I didn’t really expect to – at least not in such high numbers. It’s been my experience that there’s usually only one day each year of such high lady bug levels. (sometimes there’s also a day of small gnats – usually in the fall too, but I didn’t notice one this year). I did see a few lady bugs flying around outside in the early afternoon today … but then the winds picked up and it got cooler so I guess they found shelter.

Have you had a day when you saw a lot of Lady Bugs or other insects this year? Have you notice that this seems to happen every year?

I certainly hope that seeing so many lady bugs the other day is a good sign for next year. I love having lady bugs in my garden as they eat the aphids and I believe some of the other pest bugs that damage my plants.

BTW I’ll post some of the photos I took the other day soon!






Finally getting some much needed rain

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I don’t know if your area has been affected by lack of rain, but I was just about to start doing a rain dance here in Toronto because it had been so long since we had rain.

We went from sometime near the end of August until the 21st of September without rain. 24 or 25 days!

I’m sure those without gardens or lawns didn’t mind the lack of rain, but anyone who tries to keep a nice yard or garden was probably longing for rain.

That’s a long time when you have a thirsty garden! I guess it’s a good thing that we weren’t having typical warm Toronto temperatures during that time as the cooler temps (especially at night – one night went down to 6 C (42 F)) made it easier on the plants water needs.

During this time the city even put out a request asking residents to water trees near their property. I’ve never heard a request like that from the city.

We haven’t had much rain over the last three days … just a few short showers or sprinkles, but it helps! I do hope that we get a good rain before we go into another dry period.

How’s the weather in your area? Have you been hoping for rain too?

Summer’s coming to an end

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Join Green Thumb Sunday

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It seems that summer went by so fast and here we are at the second last day of summer! Did summer go by fast for you too?

Well either way, the garden is doing well. Roses, daisies, Asters, Sedum and many other plants are still blooming. Even my Hydrangea is still putting out a few blooms.

Pink Hydrangea 7

Our Raspberries are happy as well. They’re still producing berries! Just this afternoon my husband was out picking a small container of fresh raspberries off the plants. Yum. We’re just about to have them on some ice cream – double yum.

What’s blooming in your garden as we wind down to Autumn?

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