I had wanted to do a post on all the harvest that we had this year. But, I’m afraid I didn’t keep very good records. The yield was so little. I barely wrote anything down in my notebook. Quite discouraging.
The last of the summer predator. The grasshopper. The killer of hope. The snuffer of garden dreams.
This pest has thwarted my efforts the past 2 and 1/2 years. I’ve not had a successful garden.
I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong; or for that matter, what I did right 2 -1/2 years ago.
Between the grasshoppers and drought…we’ve lost vegetable gardens and hard labor. We’ve lost fruit trees and we have missed out on thriving trees yielding any kind of fruit to eat!
Our fig tree hasn’t given us a fig to eat the past 2 years.
I was walking in the garden on Saturday…the first full day of FALL…I saw this.
A small oak tree. Growing all by itself out where the potager (kitchen garden) has been.
There are a few nibbles on a couple of the leaves. But for the most part…it is growing.
I don’t think the grasshoppers find the Oak tree very desirable. Our large OAKS have kept their leaves. They have stood up to the ravages of these bugs…and to the lack of water.
There are all types too… check out the green one in the middle. It is like a meeting of the minds; a strategy meeting.
Then there is this. An empty nest. Abandoned long ago, after being tediously built in what was once a shade tree (Red-tip Photinia) …now empty of it’s leaves and inhabitants.
Finally, here on the first day of FALL (at the time this photo was taken)…sprouting new leaves. Struggling to survive.
I am so grateful for the rain we had ,all day ,on Friday and then on Saturday morning.
If these grasshoppers ever die back or leave…then I might have a chance at a cool weather garden. I planted what I thought to be a Fall garden for us, but they ate all that as soon as it came up.
How about you? Do you have plans for a fall garden? What sort of natural perils are you up against, in the garden...where you live?
“Rejoice in the LORD always, and again I say rejoice.” ~Philippians 4:4
9 comments:
You sound very discouraged, dear girl, and I can't say I blame you. A garden takes time, energy and money and then for it to be eaten by insects must be very disheartening.
My son lives on two acres 30 minutes outside of the city where I live and he had loads of grasshoppers. In fact he had three different kinds, that I could see, that is and he had a very prosperous garden. He and his wife work long hours five days a week and they tend and harvest and put away the veges from it. Their 11 and 12 years children do their part as well. They watered and weeded, then harvested while I was there looking after them this summer. They are a very industrious family. The snow will be on the ground in two months time here.
We didn't have any grasshoppers in our yard, only SLUGS! They ate my hosta to pieces!!! They always come back though.
Have a good week!
Ugh I am so sorry that those darn little buggers did not let your garden thrive, or the shortage of water either. I would have been devastated. No grass hoppers here but loads of other little bugs that would make your skin crawl. I haven't seen grasshoppers that big for about 10 years now. We had a pretty rainy season this year and compared to previous years which was just sprinkles, so that helped out a lot. I set up a drip/sprinkler system that I control from the spigot and water only at night or in the morning every other day. I do believe that's the reason why my garden has not died on me. I still have green beans, tomatoes, loofahs,carrots,mint,strawberries, and basil. Frost usually does not hit here until next month but its already feeling very chilly at night. I do plan on making hoop houses to keep or start some other small veggies.
Okay- Those things just really freak me out! No Fall/winter garden here. We hit freezing last night just North of here. I will have to bring in any plants I want to overwinter in the next couple of days or they will be frozen and die. Blessings- xo Diana
A bad gardening year is very disappointing. I've never had much of a green thumb, lack of funds, too much shade, too many squirrels so I just don't do much. So wish I had a beautiful garden, but it's just not gonna hppen right now. That green grasshopper looks huge!
I'm just trying to clean out the weeds and all the dead and rotted plants from a terrible summer of storms. I planted garlic, and that is the extent of my fall gardening.
Pat
I'm so sorry to hear those rotten grasshoppers have destroyed your gardens. I thought they came in cycles.
The oak is a nice ray of sunshine!
Oh my... those dreadful creatures! I saw my first grasshopper of the year a week or so ago... it made me think of you. ;)
gail
I read that the drought allows the grasshoppers to thrive - the damp actually is bad for their eggs. I for one,will be glad when this Texas drought breaks for good! I gave up on a garden. Can't keep up with the watering needs. Sigh
Sorry about your grasshopper problem. Those are terrible when there are so many and they just destroy everything. There was a big one in the yard the other day ... should have stepped on him.
Hope they do not get bad here. Need something to eat the weeds and not the good plants.
Hugs,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
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