Rita’s Monthly Gardening Tips

February 2013 –
Managing Ant & Aphid Problems

Rita's Monthly Gardening Tips,  February 5, 2013

ritaAnts are a part of nature, but it is rarely a pleasure to come upon them. Ants and their honeydew-producing insect partners are a well-known example of mutually beneficial behavior. Understanding more about the life cycles and feeding needs of both these insects will help us to come up with a plan for managing their potential destruction in our garden.

Ants’ primary food preferences are the sugars and proteins that come from plant or animal sources, while aphids, scale, mealy bugs, and whiteflies are all insects that suck the sugar-rich fluids from their host plants. Because these liquids are low in nitrogen, the aphids must consume large quantities of them to gain adequate nutrition. Continue reading →

January 2013 – Food Crops Are Not About Us

Rita's Monthly Gardening Tips,  January 1, 2013

ritaIn a human-centric world it is easy to believe that we are responsible for the growth of food crops and that these plants grow for our benefit. In reality, we don’t factor in to the purpose of plants.

In all living organisms the survival of the species is always the highest goal of this a premier study. In order for one third of all food crops that humans eat to grow, there is a relationship played out between flowers and pollinators. Flowers and pollinators have co-evolved to have a mutually beneficial relationship. The pollinators receive food from the flowers and the flowers receive assistance with reproduction from the pollinators. Our place in the scheme of things is to nurture and protect this relationship. In exchange, we receive healthier food and a healthier environment.   Continue reading →