This show about our garden is a “repetey” from a couple years ago. Some things neve
r change, except, we have started using neem oil as a repellant and it is an effective organic way to deal with troublesome insects. Neem oil is derived from the seed of the Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) native to parts of India. It is related, by the way, to the chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach), an exotic found all over urban southeastern Arizona in old landscapes. I’ve read that a pesticide can be made from its berries and seed as well. It might be well worth doing some homework if you have a chinaberry in your neighborhood and troublesome insects in your garden.
The pesky insects found around our home and garden and that are the stars of this show are the rose chafer (Macrodactylus uniformis), the squash bug (Anasa trista), and the harlequin bug (Murgatia histrionica). Now you know.
The genus Allium has had quite a taxonomic journey and is at this time (stay tuned!) in the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, where it had...
Cliffrose is the star of this show. It also goes by the common name quinine bush or the scientific name of Purshia mexicana. If...
Anyone who lives in groundhog country will have a woodchuck tale or two to tell. Growing up in Kentucky I sure did. At the...
