Comments on Greenish Thumb: Random tidbits you'll want to read

Thanks for commenting everyone! I'm glad othe...

2010-03-05T23:15:17.295-05:00

Thanks for commenting everyone! I'm glad others can relate to the person in my class!

Julie, the class is not specifically organic, but it seems that the students are definitely all of the persuasion, and the instructors seem to believe you go with organic methods before you try anything else. It's possible this is because this is a Washington DC program. In a non-city, I wonder if the philosophy would be different.

Rosey - I'm glad you're back!

Meredith - One of the instructors was saying that the one true hope for saving the bee population is for more regular people out there to keep bees. Perhaps you should look into it!!

Grace - I totally hear what you're saying. It's like a loss of innocence! :) I do seriously wonder how fungi have not taken over the world. And now after my herbs class, I wonder how kudzu has not taken over the world.

Teresa - it's been hard fitting it in. It's doable, but the week seems to speed by superfast, and I'm super busy on MG days. It's a long day - up at 5am and going and going literally all day. It's very tiring actually.

James - I always though cleaning pruners with alcohol was one of those things people suggest but never do. I guess it can be a really bad thing if there's some sort of disease or fungus, and I guess we'd never know until all the plants start to die!

James Missier:
1) What are these beneficial pest predator insects and how to lure them into the garden. certain wasps, lacewings, ladybugs, etc. You can actually buy beneficials from mail order companies, but can definitley attract them by planting native perennials.

2) How to get rid of ants. We didn't learn about this, but from my understadning, ants aren't really an enemy and can actually help to pollinate plants. I don't think it's necessary to get rid of ants (unless they're on your kitchen counter!!)

3) What damage does plant virus do - how to note them? My notes are in my car, but I believe a plant virus will often have a pattern - unlike insect damage. A plant virus will kill the tree eventually. And the difficulty is that it often spreads quickly and is difficult to catch. One thing to do is cut of the diseased portion. If we're talking about a tree branch, cut off about 10 inches beyond the damaged section, then throw away, do not compost.

4) Mummies - where? how to see them? Just with the other aphids congregating. They'll look like little dried up specks.

Thanks for the important tip Ilona!

Stephanie - thanks so much!! Will go visit!

Btw Wendy, I have an award for you. You can check ...

2010-03-02T22:51:40.755-05:00

Btw Wendy, I have an award for you. You can check out my latest post to find out about the award. Have a great day!

One word on systemics - be careful what you use on...

2010-03-02T00:06:41.791-05:00

One word on systemics - be careful what you use on food plants.

Nice of you to wade through all that info, then pa...

2010-03-01T14:44:19.989-05:00

Nice of you to wade through all that info, then pass along a few pithy, entertaining, amusing highlights.
I have encountered a rare few leaders/teachers with a talent for diffusing the class boor. There should be a class for THAT.

Great tips! Glad to see you're enjoying the MG...

2010-03-01T12:29:51.610-05:00

Great tips! Glad to see you're enjoying the MG classes. They're a lot of fun...

I enjoyed the facts! I bet I need to clean my pru...

2010-03-01T11:12:23.568-05:00

I enjoyed the facts! I bet I need to clean my pruners. I enjoyed taking my class, too. I guess in every class there is that one person that knows everything. Do they search these people out and get them to enroll just to annoy the others? Why is there usually just one? :) Thanks for sharing your info!

Thank you so much for the tips. Would really like ...

2010-03-01T02:14:49.381-05:00

Thank you so much for the tips.
Would really like to know few questions if you don't mind.

1) What are these beneficial pest predator insects and how to lure them into the garden.

2) How to get rid of ants.

3) What damage does plant virus do - how to note them?

4) Mummies - where? how to see them?

I love your tips and love your recipes and growing...

2010-02-28T22:03:36.475-05:00

I love your tips and love your recipes and growing info even more!

Job well done in producing a wonderful read.

Hi Wendy, I didn't realize how deep they get i...

2010-02-28T21:42:30.265-05:00

Hi Wendy,
I didn't realize how deep they get in those classes. I kept thinking about taking them, but now that we have our grandson every Saturday, I don't have time to. Thanks for all those tidbits. I try to clean my pruners after each session, or if I something looks like it may be diseased. I better start dong it more often.

Those darn ants are smarter than we think, moving the leaves off the lacewings. I wish my wasps would limit their diet to aphids and beetles. I don't know if they eat beetles. I have lots of wasps that love my white blooming mountain mint. I haven't seen many caterpillars the last couple of years, and wonder if it's because of all the wasps. I am considering whether I should quit growing mountain mint.

I hope spring gets here soon. It's probably real close where you are.

Great tidbits Wendy! I love all those interesting ...

2010-02-28T20:52:21.077-05:00

Great tidbits Wendy! I love all those interesting random little facts. I am so making sure to wipe down my tools now! It sounds as if you are really enjoying your class =)

I had to laugh at your last comment about your classmate. I've just started a course (baking/pastry =)) and have one of those too! Your right, there always has to be one ;)

Wendy, first thank you, thank you for all those ra...

2010-02-28T20:33:22.998-05:00

Wendy, first thank you, thank you for all those random facts, some made me laugh, some made me groan, and some made me uncomfortable.
And I want to know why the annoying woman from my garden design course went all the way down there to annoy you, was it not enough to ruin my course!

Nothing wrong with some occasion randomness, espec...

2010-02-28T14:22:20.209-05:00

Nothing wrong with some occasion randomness, especially when it's so interesting...

At a recent event with a few dozen gardeners in attendance the topic of sterilizing pruners came up. Almost zero percent of people there said they did it. I fall in that camp myself, but was much more careful when I was growing orchids, which had issues with a couple common viruses.

Wendy, I am very thankful for all the useful tips ...

2010-02-28T04:40:26.893-05:00

Wendy, I am very thankful for all the useful tips you share with us today. As a DIY gardener, I need this. Now, I too look forward to your class!

Thanks for all the info, I will be sure to clean m...

2010-02-27T23:34:35.879-05:00

Thanks for all the info, I will be sure to clean my blades since I am sure what you are saying is true and I don't want to know the details. Glad to know about the cows and good for you for geeking out. I have thought about taking the classes also but I don't know how I could fit it in amongst the other 5 trillion things I already agree to doing. I will be anxious to hear how you enjoy it.

Wendy~~ You're too funny! I think the answer t...

2010-02-27T13:37:19.407-05:00

Wendy~~ You're too funny! I think the answer to the annoying class member has something to do with Murphy but I'm not clever enough to figure it out. I just know that during my class s/he was there and let everyone know it!!

I felt the same way about plant pathogens when I took the course. Actually the whole course, although extremely beneficial, was kind of depressing. I likened it to being a health care worker or vet clinic employee. You know? When the vast majority of your experience is dealing with the negatives in life. I admire those people greatly. They must have learned somewhere along the line to distance themselves for the sake of doing their job. I didn't learn that.

I love your random factoids. I knew I never liked ants. Now I know why. :)

I hope your weather continues to allow for rapid defrosting. It's time for spring already.

That is incredibly moving about the sick bees. I ...

2010-02-27T13:03:35.677-05:00

That is incredibly moving about the sick bees. I love bees, and the more I learn about them the more I want to have my own hives. :)

I am so guilty of digging when it's wet in early spring -- and I didn't realize it was so bad. (Yet another reason why impatience is actually a vice.) I'm quitting that habit cold turkey, and I thank you for the valuable heads up, Wendy!

Couldn't stay away from your blog...too much g...

2010-02-27T12:06:28.081-05:00

Couldn't stay away from your blog...too much good information here.
I will be better about cleaning my garden tools.

Rosey

Fun post! Is your class specifically organic? I g...

2010-02-27T08:31:51.589-05:00

Fun post!

Is your class specifically organic? I got frustrated with our local Master Gardeners because most of them scoffed at the idea of organic.

I'm terrible about sterilizing my equipment. Like, I don't ever do it really. :-\ Maybe I'll think about starting this year, especially with the blight we fought last season.

LOL @ what you had to say about the know it all in your class. Isn't there always one like that? Don't let them get to you too much!

I like all your reminders (will not dig in the wet...

2010-02-27T08:14:00.163-05:00

I like all your reminders (will not dig in the wet soil, will not dig in the wet soil, but it's so hard), and oh yes, I had that person in my Master Gardener class too!!

"If bees get sick, they won't go back to ...

2010-02-27T03:59:35.884-05:00

"If bees get sick, they won't go back to the colony" - How I wish some people have this bee sense too.

My sister who has two chihuahuas kept insisting I use her dogs' poop as my fertilizer for my garden. I am so gonna forward her this post :)

"why does there always have to be that one person in every class who thinks it's a personal class just for him/her?" They're called attention seekers. We have them in the workplace too.

Cow burps... oops I better stay away after their m...

2010-02-27T00:51:46.572-05:00

Cow burps... oops I better stay away after their meals... this is one funny but interesting news :-D Thanks for sharing such fun facts and you have a funfilled weekend yeah.