Flowers, Container Gardening and Hornworms

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So much is in bloom to admire as we splash around the yard!

Photos: Pink Lupine and a Mixed Bed of Flowers in Colorado

All of the plants we acquired on our excursions to Kansas and Colorado over the past few weeks will be planted in pots at least until the ground drains. And, believe me there are plenty out there to be planted.

HGTV.com
Home and Garden TV sent out an
email with thorough coverage of
container gardening help. Topics include outdoor and house plants,
trees, bulbs, edibles, a pond in a pot and making pots. Click here for a link - check it out at hgtv.com's site.
The other thing I found at their site is a photo of a tomato hornworm in pupae stage. It interested me because I have found of few of these brown cases while cultivating the garden and squished them (of course).

HGTV's writer said that by the time it is in this stage, the hornworm has already eaten enough tomato leaves to survive and pupate. Five spotted hawk moth is the name of the insect that will emerge to lay eggs on your pepper and tomato plants. Those eggs become little green caterpillars that feed on the leaves of the veggies - and the cycle continues. If they are in the neighborhood, parasitic wasps will lay their eggs on the hornworms and kill them.
The Moth Photographers Group website (link) at MS State has plenty of photos to answer your question, "What's that one?"

Comments

Whyite said…
Lots of rain and finally drying out. we have some horn worm damage but no horn worm.
July 7, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Molly Day said…
My tomato vines are yellowing from all the rain so I've put some tomato fertilizer on them to see if I can restore them to deep green health.

Also the squash bugs and cucumber beetles are getting the daily squish between my thumb and index finger.

I hesitate to use bug sprays - how do you cope with insects?
July 8, 2007 at 4:45 PM
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