Every Blooming THing, Late July 2019

Our yard is at its most colorful and beautiful right now and this will continue well into August.

Right now, the daylillies and tall phlox are blooming, along with the hosta, some of the mums, wild daisies, bee balm and some kind of a pink perennial.  By far, the most striking are the black-eyes Susans and purple coneflowers.  Also, there is some kind of a tall, small flowered yellow sunflower plant in bloom as well.

And, we're talking about hundreds of these plants.

We've finally reached the dry season and I gave to be watering lots of flowers in pots and hanging baskets.

And, then there are those pesky Japanese beetles who continue to eat my plants but pay the price.

--RoadDog


"BABY" TRIVIA TEASER:  Which term is used for a baby otter?   Answer below.


"pup"

JSS: OK, Call It Global Warming-- Japanese Beetles-- Long Distance, Please

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  OK, CALL IT GLOBAL WARMING--  After this past two weeks, go ahead and call it Global Warming.  You'll get no argument from me.

2.  JAPANESE BEETLES--  They're back.  But their numbers don't approach anything like in their heyday ten years ago.  They do two things, eat and procreate.  I often find one on top of another and they are prime targets.  They can't move fast and at least I know I get a female so no eggs and new beetles from her.

3.  LONG DISTANCE, PLEASE--  I read that President Nixon called the Apollo 11 folks fifty years ago.  Hopefully he had a REAL lot of quarters, dimes and nickels to cover THOSE long distance charges in 1969!!   Another quarter, please.

I remember calling Liz in Illinois when my family was on vacation in North Carolina when I was in high school and college.  I would have to gave a pocketful of change.  It seemed that every few minutes the operator was asking for more money.  This was an expensive thing to do.

A Lot Of Japanese Beetles Have Died With Smiles On Their Faces.  --RoadDog

JSS: Movies-- Boating-- Japanese Beetles

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  MOVIES--  On Wednesday, I saw my 52nd movie of the year "And So It Goes."  I strive to see at least a movie a week on average, so already made that number.

2.  BOATING--  As far as boating, we shoot for 40 times out on "School's Out...Forever" during a summer.  As of yesterday, we've been out 16 times, so are a little behind on that area.  Part of that is due to a very cool June and I just heard our July around here was one of the coolest overall on record.

3.  JAPANESE BEETLES--  I don't know what happened to them, but the swarms of these pests that so messed up my summers every July and August "just ain't around much no more."  I do have a few, but nothing I can't handle.

But, up until about three years ago, they were more numerous every year, causing me to have to go out two-three times a day on killing expeditions and I still couldn't keep up with them.

But now, hopefully, they are gone.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog


SIGNS OF OLD AGE:  You get into a heated argument about pension plans.

Every Blooming THing: Dadburn Beetles Back-- Hosta Garden

DADBURN BEETLES BACK-- The same day I printed the last EVBLTH, I found my first Japanese beetle. I also killed my first Japanese beetle of the season. My lawn law is to kill them whenever and wherever I find them.

Last year, they were nowhere as bad as they usually are. Hoping for a repeat this year.

I wouldn't mind them if there weren't so many of them, and they just keep coming. I can do a yard sweep and kill everyone of them and come back later in the day and they are back.


HOSTA GARDEN-- Work on the hosta garden at the west end of the arboretum is about finished. This was actually the first place I planted hostas with the intention of making them the main focus and that was about eight years ago.

All this time it has remained incomplete until we had my encroachment on the neighbor's yard a few weeks ago. This got me to moving on it. The back retaining wall is finished and large-growing hostas have been transplanted behind it.

The other hostas were thinned out and moved according to size. When you plant them, you can't tell how tall they will eventually get and I get too many big ones together.

I Sure Hate Those Lousy Beetles!! --RoadDog


YOU MIGHT BE FROM CHICAGO IF...You biy the "Trib."

Lousy Japanese Beetles

Even if I do say so, the yard is ablaze with color from one end to the other. Helps make up for the leaves of the plum bushes, burning bushes, apple tree, weeping cherry, golden raintree, crabapples, mountain ashes, and birches that the lousy Japanese beetles love to munch on so much.

I do a "beetle sweep" at least twice a day. Many of them have died while gorging or procreating. At least they had "smiles" on their little buggy faces. Actually, they're easy to catch while procreating as it takes a little while to get "unhooked" as it were.

Best times to get 'em or early in the morning or late in the evening when they are more sluggish.

I smash them between my fingers or on my palm or drop them into a bucket of soapy water.

I propose sending the Japanese our mosquitoes in trade for their wonderful export.

The Only Good Japanese Beetle is a Dead Japanese Beetle. --RoadDog

Lousy Japanese Beetles

This has to be the worst summer on record for Japanese beetles. I have never seen so many and this year, they have really targeted trees. My two birches, two mountain ashes, and two crab apples are looking very badly with leaves stripped of green and on the ground along with brown leaves remaining.

They are also after quite a few of my bushes and some flowers. They are a real bane and especially a problem this year since I can't get out to kill them either by hand or chemicals.
I should mention that they are attacking trees all over the subdivision and area. They are worse than last year's 17 year cicadas.

I shook some limbs and lots of beetles fell out and those on the concrete got smashed.

They will be continuing the onslaught for another month. Hope the trees and bushes survive.

I REALLY HATE Those Bugs. --RoadDog

Stills, Yup, We STILL Got 'Em

1. STILL have those rotten Japanese beetles. They're after the geraniums and marigolds now. I refer to my killing excursions as "Search and Destroy" as that is exactly what I do. I go out in the morning and evening and occasionally at other times. I'd sure like to have a "bug count", but that would be impossible.

2. STILL have a huge number of very hungry mosquitoes.

3. STILL can't go out boating. The water is still over the pier.

4. STILL a Sox fan even though this is going to be a "long season."

5. STILL cutting the grass. I cut it Monday and again today. You can almost hear it growing.

6. STILL got those ridiculous gas prices. We even had it jump up nine cents around here since Tuesday. Most be the "Labor Day" gouge.

Come On Water...Go Down!!!! I need to go BOATING!!!! -RoadDog

No Boating for Me, Bumble Bees 1- The "Dawg" 0

This past Tuesday, I went out to the boat with the intention of doing a bit of a float. I already knew that the Chain of Lakes was open, but only no wake. Plus, there were dire warnings about the extremely high bacteria content in the water. If you got any on you, you were supposed to wash it immediately (with what?) and take a shower.

When I got out to Rick's, I found the boat actually a few inches above the pier. I'd never seen it that high before. Water was up along the seawalls and grass on both sides of the channel. I would have had to walk through several inches of water to get out to the boat, so decided to take a RAIN check on my float.

Hopefully, I will be able to get out on Thursday or Friday.

Of course, we have Labor Day weekend coming up, always a big crowd out on the lakes. Hopefully the water will have gone down enough by then so that the no wake can be lifted.

Last evening, I was making a "Search and Destroy" mission against the dreadful Japanese beetles. It was essentially the "gloaming" with daylight fast leaving us. Out by the gazebo, I grabbed a dark object that I though to be a beetle. The buzz gave it away as not being a beetle. Before I could get my hand away, I'd been STUNG. Ouch!!! One very mad bumble bee buzzed away, probably planning on telling his buds about the stupid guy who thought he was a beetle.

This is the third time I've been stung out in the yard since 1993. Fortunately, I am not allergic to bee stings like Liz is.

The first time I got stung was by a bumble bee out by Frances' Back 40. It flew straight up and nailed me just above my right eye. A few years ago, while I was staining the deck, a wasp came up between the boards and got me on the rear end. Sure glad I didn't have to go to the emergency room for that one. "Let's see, what is the nature of your injury?"

Just one more reason to hate those beetles.

Do NOT Mistake a Bumble Bee for a Japanese Beetle. --RoadDog

Fightin' Japanese Beetles, Mos-Quitoes, Grass, and The Chain

Took a walk around the yard this morning before A & E showed "24" and caught up with some old "friends" of mine, the ever-eating Japanese beetles. They had a feast over the last four days as I was not around to kill 'em. Used the bucket of soapy water where I knock them off the leaves. It is a very effective but time-consuming way to eliminate them. I would estimate that I got about 400.

While doing it, I had to fight off the mosquitoes which are in worse numbers than I've ever seen. They rise in mass whenever you get near bushes. You don't even have to bump a bush. They just sense your presence. Quite a few of them met their maker, but, unfortunately, a few got through so I'm doing some scratching. I guess I'll have to slather up with Off whenever I work in the yard for awhile. I don't much like doing that, but it's hard to work and slap those little biters away.

Fortunately, I was able to cut the grass last Tuesday when we had a rare day without rain. However, it rained Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday so it is high again. I hope to cut it today (probably at the highest setting) and again by Wednesday. Lots of dew on the grass this morning, and, unfortunately the sun isn't shining to dry it out.

The Chain is open for no wake, but warnings are out for the increased bacteria level and that people should not come in contact with the water- no swimming. Let's hope the water drops by this weekend. Labor Day usually marks the official end of the season although you can still do boating until the end of October, which I usually do.

Still Hatin' Those Lousy Beetles!!! And NOT Too Crazy 'Bout Them Skeeters Either. --RoadDog

Row, Row, Row Us Away- Rain Continues

Like they say, when it rains, it pours. And around here, we've certainly gotten a lot of the wet stuff the last several weeks. It seems like every other day it rains. Since I deejayed the wedding Saturday, which, unfortunately, was outside (fortunately under pavilions, but even then, it tended to put a damper on things), it has rained essentially straight through. If it wasn't raining, it was threatening to do so.

Fox Chicago said this morning that we can expect it to Saturday.

Boating in the rain isn't much fun, so that is out. Plus, the Fox River has been completely closed both above and below the dam. The Chain of Lakes itself is open to boating on a no-wake basis. This means that you are not to make any ripples as you go through the water.

All this rain hasn't stopped the cursed Japanese beetles though. Plus, the slugs are thriving on my hostas. This is ideal slug weather.

The grass is VERY green and thick, and I can almost hear it growing. I just cut it last Thursday when we finally got some dry weather. It was so high and thick, I had to cut it on the highest setting. It is going to be a real bear if I have to wait until Saturday to cut it.

Two good things, though: I haven't had to water any plants, and, the septic field lines are finally green again. Two years ago, we had an extended drought for the whole summer. I let my yard go and it had a very crunchy texture come September. When we finally got rain, it greened up right away. All, that is, except for the septic field lines which stayed dead. I worked on them all last summer and this, and you could still see the outlines. But, NOT any more.

I did learn that it we have another drought, to keep the area around the septic field watered.

I'm listening to The Surf, 94.9 FM, out of Myrtle Beach, SC, right now, and no rain is forecast. Talked with Mom Monday. She says they could use some of our rain as it has been very dry. The Fox Lake Waterway station in Fox Lake reports that we've had 7.67 inches so far this month, but I think we've had more in Spring Grove. Rockford, about 50 miles west reports 10.47 inches.

Brings Me Back to an old Favorite Song, "Rainmaker", by the Cryan' Shames. --RoadDog

Speaking of Those ROTTEN Japanese Beetles

I figure I have another couple weeks to deal with the main part of the Japanese beetle onslaught. They have really done in the top of one of my mountain ash trees, a favorite snack for the varmints. Right now, the seed balls are a brilliant orange and very pretty on the bottom of the mountain ash, but not so much at the top because of the eaten leaves.

They are also going after a wildflower, my burning bushes, and purple plum bushes. They also like my paper and river birches.

The best time to catch and kill the beetles is early in the morning and about two hours before nightfall. They are then settled in to eat or procreate for the night, and very sluggish. During the day time, they are very fast to get away.

I kill them either by smashing them with my fingers- very messy, or knocking them off into a pail with soap and warm water. This kills them very effectively. Just don't let too many accumulate as it gets very smelly after a couple days.

I must kill 300-500 or more every day. They either have successive hatchings or a lot of them fly over from the neighbors' homes. I mean, I'll completely kill off a group one day, and, the next day, they'll be back.

Last night, I tried a new way to kill them. Since water and soap does a good job, I loaded up my sprayer with a mix and sprayed them. I'll have to see if it worked later today. I probably will have to catch some and run a test in a controlled environment, though.

I Really HATE Those Japanese Beetles. --RoadDog

Goodbye Cicadas...We Hardly Knew Ye, Well, Some of Us

The great infestation of Cicada Brood XIII has come and gone here in the Chicago area. Some people really got to see them, some, like me, saw some, others saw none. It just depended where you were.

I saw a couple at the historic Woodstock Square, and a couple in the yard here in Spring Grove. I did come across large numbers in Bull Valley, especially along Thompson Road. I had to wash the car after a couple encounters there. The last one I saw in the yard was flying for his life with a sparrow in hot pursuit.

Those people who were in areas heavily populated by them had quite a cleanup to do, as well as a battle with the stench of their decaying bodies, which were in the thousands in some spots. That smell was described as a cross between dead raccoon and fresh-mown grass. Personally, I like the smell of fresh-mown grass, but could do without the dead raccoon.

The Chicago Tribune ran an article on June 23rd, about the scientists and observers who were frantically running around the whole area gathering information about them. If the cicadas were busy this past month molting, mating, laying eggs, and dying, these stalwarts were just as occupied.

Reporter John Blemer went along with University of Connecticut entomologist John Cooley, who, along with a dozen others, fanned out across four states listening for that unmistakable buzz. I found that individuals sounded more like a crying, screaming mix. However, along Thompson Road, the chorus almost hurt your ears.

On the 24th, Cooley had driven out to Fox Lake (by us), Woodstock, and as far west as Rock Cut State Park near Rockford. His mission to collect new data on the cicadas. He was sponsored by the National Geographic. Hopefully, we will have a better idea where they'll be in 2024 when they make their return. Modern technology such as cell phones, global positioning, and interactive web maps will help.

Sometimes, he would stop every tenth of a mile and listen. In Bull Valley, he didn't have to as it was so loud. He had gone as far south as Springfield, to central Iowa, and southern Wisconsin. All together, he went about 7000 miles.

Sure Would Have Liked to See Some More Cicadas, but Maybe that was for the Best. Now I Have Those Very UNWELCOME Japanese Beetles. --RoadDog

They're Baaaaack.... I Hate Those Japanese Beetles

Two days ago, I noticed the little buggers on a plant in the arboretum. This bug has been a nemesis to me ever since I moved out to Spring Grove. Strangely, I never had a problem with them in Round Lake Beach, only about ten miles away. Yesterday, there were LOTS of them.

I don't mind when bugs eat a little, but these have voracious appetites and eat ALL the time, that is, when they are not procreating. Those two activities are all I've ever seen them do.

Now, I will have to go out on a daily basis for July and August and kill them. I use my fingers mostly and just smash them. When they are mating, they are one on top of the other, so I get two-for-ones then. Many a Japanese beetle has gone to their maker with a smile on its face, if they have a face, that is.

I also sometimes use chemical sprays when they're up high in the trees. I've also used a small bucket of soap water and knock them off the leaves into it where they drown. They are very adept at dropping off the leaves when disturbed, so you ave to be very fast. They're much easier to get when they're mating, or early in the morning.

They are originally from Japan and not very destructive there as their numbers are controlled by natural enemies. They are a serious threat to a number of plants, but especially roses. I have problems with them on one bush that I don't know the name of, purple plums, my one rose, birch trees, and mountain ashes. It is believed that they were introduced to the US in 1916 at a nursery in New Jersey after the larvae entered the US in a bulb shipment.

We are overrun with them in our subdivision, and not just me, but all my neighbors. Some have spent a lot of money on the traps, but I believe they just attract them.

I noticed last year that the numbers were down considerably, probably because of the severe drought we had the year before. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae live underground and it got too hard. So at least that's one good thing about a drought.

You mess with my stuff and I'll get you.

Headin' Out Shortly to Kill Me Some Beetles. --RoadDog

THIS DAY IN HISTORY- 1914- Archduke Ferdinand of Austria was killed by a band of roving Japanese beetles, touching off what became known as the "War to End All Wars", "The Great War", but better known as World War I.