Today I am planning to try some products that are new to me. A company called EcoSmart claims they make "all natural" insecticide and weed killer for the garden. They claim their products are "safe"...unless, of course, you are an insect or a weed. Generally speaking, I usually try to use plants in my gardens that are so tough and hardy they don't need no stinking insecticide and I prefer to pull weeds by hand rather than spray Agent Orange, but there's always the client who wants delicate roses and roses attract aphids, so there you go. And weeds that grow between tightly spaced pavers are very difficult to eradicate. And the bermuda grass situation in the desert has become somewhat dire - I was shocked to learn that even the Desert Botanical Garden, home of extremely civilized people, uses Round-Up on the bermuda grass, but I guess they are just being realistic.
So, if I can find something "safe", "natural", "green", and all those other buzz words of eco-harmony, it would be nice to use it for occasional spot treatments. I will let you know how it goes. Maybe I will save the universe from poisonous chemicals. YOU NEVER KNOW.
By the way, my grandmother always sprayed soapy dishwater on her roses to drive the aphids away. And she lived to be 97. I'm just saying. Ladybugs like to eat 'em, too.
My son's nickname is Captain Relentless. He is only six years old but I swear he sleeps like a teenager. I have had the hardest time getting him up and ready for school in the mornings. I have tried alarm clocks, then louder alarm clocks, I have tried playing music for him, I have tried waking him by gently shaking him and giving him a back rub, I have tried playing reveille on a kazoo, I have tried banging a drum, I have tried reading a book to him, I have had the dog jump on the bed and lick his face, I even went so far one morning as to stand over him with a Nerf gun and shoot Nerf bullets at his head. Didn't work.
A few months ago I finally figured out the solution. I set up my laptop next to his bed and went to youtube. I found a "Fractured Fairy Tale" episode and hit play. I had a mug of Instant Breakfast standing by - this is so hard to admit because I prided myself on preparing a proper breakfast for him every morning, but he's so hard to drag out of bed there is never any time. Immediate success!! He perked up so fast I couldn't believe I hadn't done this sooner! So this is now our school morning ritual: a classic cartoon on youtube and a mug of Instant Breakfast. And once in a while I manage to slip in some sliced apple and some turkey bacon as well.
I can't help but think of JP Patches when I watch this! Love that man!
JP Patches
Original material © 2011 betsylolafalanadowling.blogspot.com, Brain Fuzz & Betsy Dowling, All Rights Reserved
Image of ladybug from Duncraft: http://duncraft.atom5.com/butterflies-bees-lad-3213.html
Image of JP Patches from an archived article in the Seattle Times: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20061218&slug=jppatches18
A little humor goes a long way. I get the message in "leaping Beauty"!
ReplyDeletelrb