2005-08-06

Smoking Kills

So, the bugs came back. Poor Killer, just sitting in the sun, minding his own business, then BAM! He's covered with teeny, tiny, crawly white flecks - wrapping their webs over all his
leaves!

Soap 'em:

Something had to be done! The first thing I did, was to run a cool sink of water with just a dab of dish soap. I dunked the whole plant in the sink, the after a few seconds, I rinsed the poor guy off. The next day - while better - still had some bugs, so I did it again. The third day I decided maybe it was time to try something different.

Smoke 'em:

We've all heard that "smoking kills." I don't know if you've heard it, but they used to tell me in school that there are more/the same chemicals in second hand smoke than some pesticides (I don't remember exactly, it's been years!). I thought - hey! it's worth a shot! So I asked my dad to help me out!

We put the rose in a plastic bag and dad puffed it full of smoke through a straw. We left the bag this way for a couple hours. The next day - NO BUGS! Great! Great for the rose, that is - after the eggs hatched, I figured we could be finished with those bugs once and for all with one more smoke treatment. But dad said . . .

NO WAY!!

"All the smoke that went in that bag came straight from MY LUNGS. You want to kill me too? I'm not doing THAT again!"

Guess it's back to the soap and water for me, until I get some spray! Does anyone know of an easy bug fix I can get around the house? :D

2005-08-03

Sham Rockin'

My only bulb, a shamrock just got a flower! I did not even know that this kind of shamrock COULD have flowers! It was a present to me from Gavin's mum.

I really like it, because (a little bit like the mimosa from before) it's sensitive. It doesn't change when you touch it, but if the sun isn't shining, then all the leaves close up. So instead of looking like 4 elephant ears sunning themselves, it turns into tiny green bats sleeping on the ends of the stem - don't you think?

The lovely flower sure was a nice surprise! I noticed it in the mid afternoon and made a mental note to take a picture or it - but by the time I had gotten back, the sun was on the other side of the house, and the petals had already 'tucked' themselves in! And they did a good job of it! I'd never have guessed it had even opened yet, if I hadn't seen it myself. I hope there are more flowers still coming :)

OH! I couldn't fit all the pictures I took on this post, so check out the other one in My Photo Album! Enjoy!

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