Joan Ambu Archives – Page 51 of 95 – Strength Of The Small

Insects Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Around The Garden

By JM PerezAugust 23, 20132 min read781 views

As Fall nears, colors are starting to show again in the garden. My Desert Willow, Texas Sage, Autumn Sage, Yellow Daisy, Oleanders, Gaura Lindheimeri, Plumbago Auriculata ‘Imperial Blue’, Snapdragon, most of the Roses and Gladiolus are blooming with a variety of colors.

Despite the hot temperatures, the Pumpkin vine has been thriving and producing lovely flowers of box sexes. Though there are no female blossoms yet, I have seen a couple of female buds which I will have to pollinate by hand for it to become a pumpkin (if there aren’t bees around to pollinate it). So far it’s looking promising.

Dainty Bess Hybrid Tea Rose, is one charming Rose. I instantly fell in love with the Rose when I saw it at Mark and Nellie’s Nursery a couple of years ago. The beautiful “Dainty Bess” single flowering rose with elegant stature and five light pink silky petals is one of my favorite repeat bloomer Roses. The flower opens and closes over its burgundy, purple or maroon stamens.

Dainty Bess Rose. — *Dainty Bess Hybrid Tea Rose (bred by Wm. E.B. & Archer, England 1925).*

Most of my mini Rose bushes are in bloom. I particularly loved the one below. It’s one of the Roses I bought from the 99¢ Only Stores early this year (smart way to grow a Garden for less).

Below is my miniature Rose “Let Freedom Ring.” I planted a couple in the front yard two years ago and just a few months ago they stopped flowering and looked like they were dying. So I moved them into a raised bed in the backyard and much to my amazement, they have been thriving ever since. Another 99¢ Only Stores purchase.

Finally, a Bee pollinating a Yellow Daisy.

I am feeling so grateful for every minute spent in my garden and for the wonderful moments with my family.

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By JM Perez

Cockroaches Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Cockroaches: Destructive Pests

By JM PerezAugust 21, 20132 min read476 views

A new found pest in my Garden this month are cockroaches. In addition to dealing with Cutworms, Curl Grubs, Slugs and Snails, I am now forced to deal with cockroaches. After noticing that only one of my Rose Bushes bloomed all Summer (some bloomed and the flower sort of disappeared the following day) and finding a colony of cockroaches underneath my dead Red Riding Hood Beardtongue plants which I have owned for less than three months, I knew I had a serious problem to handle. These pests are busy eating the roots of my plants as well as flowers on my Roses. I knew they were a nuisance, but never knew they could destroy an entire plant. This morning I was surprised to find a colony of cockroach at the base of an Oleander bush.

Cockroach in Mulch. — *Cockroach in Mulch (…).*

Just like Beetles, some species of Cockroaches burrow a couple of inches into the soil and lay their eggs. They feed on pretty much anything, thrive in hot weather, multiply rapidly, they are survivors, they adapt and evolve. All of which make it difficult to completely eradicate them.

A few solutions:

Place cockroach (sticky) traps among your plants
Apply cockroach spray or some Insecticide Ready-to-Spray Liquid (recommended on ornamental trees, flowers, fruits and vegetable gardens)
Spray Neem Oil over the breeding area to repel the insects
Keep your garden free of food and water source to minimize their presence

Click here to learn more about Cockroaches.
Get a Trapper Insect Trap (Great for Bed Bugs, Spiders, Cockroaches) – Includes 90 Traps.

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By JM Perez

Blessings Scripture Parenting Love Weather Children Family Gratitude

My Bringer of Serenity

By JM PerezAugust 19, 20132 min read569 views

Finally, after weeks of praying, hoping and waiting; it rained this morning. It was a short moment of heavy rain. Prior to the rain, we had periods of thunderstorm and lightning which started around 5:00 AM until 7:15 AM. My daughter who was still asleep then was awoken by the sound of the rain pouring down as well as the thunder. Once it stopped raining, the sun came out and my husband took his little girl outside to look at the beautiful rainbow.

I love it when it rains and I look forward to suit up, get out of the house and smell the clean, wet dirt. Today was different. While it was raining it got hot inside and as soon as it stopped raining it got even hotter. Though the backyard looks beautiful and the plants healthy, the dirt smelled musty for the first time in years. It smelled like decaying organic matter. I checked my younger plants, moved the trash can to the street for our weekly garbage pickup and then I went in to spend some time with my darling little girl.

I am blessed beyond words for having a wonderful family and amazing children. Every single one of them lift me up and renew my Spirit with their love and generosity. From the moment we drop off my Son to school until it’s time to pick him up, I experience great moments with my little girl. We explore, we learn, we play, we watch TV, we dance, we laugh, we plan events, we cock and eat, she calls and talk to one of her favorite persons in the World, we take turns listening to each other …, and she even makes up stories just for me.

What I love the most about my kids is that they keep me sane and joyful. They are best friends. They love and have so much respect and admiration for one another. They help each other, compromise and fight fair. They’ve somehow figured a way to give me some space when needed. Her brother though her the ABC’s and 123’s. He reads stories to her every single night before going to bed and they pray together before sleeping (whether I am present or not). Also, they remind me so much of my brother and I at that age.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” — Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

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By JM Perez

Collectible Vintage Home Decor

Cute Vintage Finds

By JM PerezAugust 17, 20131 min read847 views

Early this afternoon we returned to the Estate Liquidators to purchase what was left of the 1920’s-1940’s Vintage Chippendale Pull with cast iron bail a couple of weeks earlier (see them here). This time I made sure I took all the dismantled pieces of the drawers including those I left behind last time.

My husband found a couple of old gardening tools he’s been wanting to acquire for a long time. My boy was more interested in Shells and got a few for a craft project. As for my daughter, she found two of her favorite characters stuffed toys which she immediately grabbed. A ballerina Smurfette and Hello Kitty, both vintage. The Smurfette was produced by Applause, Inc. (founded as Wallace Berrie & Co., Inc) and is marked 1984 Peyo.

The Hello Kitty is a 1996 nylon plush doll and was distributed in the United States by Sanrio, Inc.

As for me, I found a few things. The one I love the most is this tall Vintage Grey Smoke Glass Cylinder Vase.

My second favorite vintage find is a 1977 Lil’ Miz “Whisk-It” (Millet Grass Whisk-Broom) by Westwood Import Co., Inc. This beauty comes right on time as I will be making my Fall wreath in a few day and she will play an important part.

I am very grateful for my cute little vintage finds on this hot Saturday afternoon.

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By JM Perez

Caterpillars Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Outdoor Moments

By JM PerezAugust 16, 20132 min read460 views

It’s a lovely day here in the High Desert, except for the high temperatures. Just a couple of weeks ago, the weather seemed to be getting cooler and now we are back to Summer heat.

Not being able to do some gardening, I took a twenty minute break from my daughter to walk around the yard and admire the plants. Everything looks beautiful in the backyard, so I made my way to the front yard. Only two of my mature Rose bushes are starting to bloom and my Bird of Paradise Bush was in full bloom, with clusters of beautiful yellow flowers and red long stamens (looks more like Pink to me).

As I reached over to touch a flower, I saw a Yellow Caterpillar resting on a flower bud, which appears to be a Yellow larva of either the Cloudless Sulphur or Orange-barred Sulphur Caterpillar. If you take a closer look at the picture above, you will see what appears to be a web. That alone tells me that the yellow caterpillar is either building a tent or recently emerged from it. I love butterflies; though truth be told, I dislike the larval stage.

Yellow Caterpillar on Bird of Paradise Bush. — *Bird of Paradise Bush hosting a Yellow Caterpillar.*

My Common Broom plants are covered with Genista Caterpillars (the only plants they feed on in my yard). These caterpillars are the larvae of the Genista Broom Moth, Lepidoptera Pyralidae. Click here to read all about these caterpillars, their origins and how to manage/get rid of them.

Finally when temperatures cooled off late in the afternoon, we decided to spend the rest of the day in the backyard, organizing and cleaning up the garage. While we were busy working, my kids spotted a Sheriff Helicopter flying over the Neighborhood. It doesn’t happen quite often, so they are thrilled when they see one.