Article: It's feeling like the end of summer
It's feeling like the end of summer
How are you doing over there? It has been a very busy summer for us but we have been able to fit a bit of fun in there, too. And lots of iced coffees. My garden didn't do a ton of great things this year but there have been LOTS of bugs. So many bugs and that makes me happy!
Josh and I met our very first spotted lanternfly nymph a little while ago and it took me a minute to identify him. I had never met one in real life in Massachusetts yet. (We were adventuring in Connecticut at the time) We finally figured it out after telling him how cute and spotty and adorable he was and taking millions of photos of him. It was suddenly pretty sad to think that we are taught to hate them and kill them immediately when we see them up here in New England. I know that they are very damaging to trees, and I do also love trees, but such sadness fell over me when I remembered how I so often see people online gleeful about smashing these tiny lives.
Maybe you have heard about the studies being done recently showing that milkweed is toxic to spotted lanternfly nymphs? The study started by planting a perimeter of common milkweed all around the outside edge of a grapevine vineyard where they grow grapes for wine. They found that the milkweed killed 60-80% of the lanternfly nymphs and adults within 24 hours when they fed on it! Even though there were grapevines to eat, they also ate the milkweed plants. So, I think that goes to show us that we should be planting more natives. And native milkweed varieties to where we live! Spotted lanternflies are attracted to invasives in the US mostly. They LOVE tree-of-heaven that is a widespread invasive from China and all over the US. So, yank out that tree-of-heaven and plant some milkweed and let's see if we can help nature heal herself. This is a link to that study with the milkweed plants and spotted lanternflies.
Lots of the plants and trees are already crisping up here in Mass because of the lack of rain, sadly. I still go out every day and peek in my gardens to see what is growing and who is in there. you can hear it in the insects, summer is coming to an end. It just sounds differently now. Do you know what I mean? Picking tiny bouquets of flowers and wearing them always makes me smile. So, I was reminded of these vase necklaces that I created for doing just that!
Red-Bellied Woodpecker Vase Necklace
Echinacea Coneflower Vase Necklace
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