Several ideas passed by me on the way to this blog: comments about the weather lately; comments on a blog that I read on the Garden Professors – an excellent blog written by various experts in horticulture; or, just complaining about the wind here in Suisun City and my about-to-bloom peony. Maybe a mishmash of all three is in order!

The blog was written about why maybe, just maybe, it is not such a great idea to release certain beneficial insects in the garden to help maintain order in the garden. In particular, the author highlighted lady bugs (really lady beetles) and praying mantises. The reasoning for this is releasing lady bugs means that they will stay in the yard until there is a shortage of aphids and then they leave for better hunting grounds without leaving eggs behind to replace themselves.

The reason for the author's rejection of the praying mantises is their annoying habit of attacking and eating other insects, both good and bad, including themselves. I personally like the mantises in the yard as they feed my belief that they are guarding the yard. Oh well, every year I will continue purchasing the egg cases and let them do their thing!

On the question of the weather, unfortunately we can do nothing about it! Yesterday, at my home the temperature was in the high sixties; today is a little bit warmer, with the cloud bank over Interstate 80 to Vallejo, coming further inland. For those who are trying to grow hot weather veggies, such as corn and tomatoes, it may seem as though Mother Nature is trying your patience. Wait awhile longer – you soon be wishing for this cooler weather. For now, plant those veggies close to a wooden fence or windbreak; it helps to direct heat to your plants.

And finally, I have one last peony about to bloom. Those peony buds entice the winds to blow as the flowers only last about a day before the peony was shattered by the wind! Happens every year, every bloom time! Oh well, they are pretty for that day!

If you have gardening questions, please check the various Farmers' Markets in your town for our Garden Booths and our slogan, “questions to grow by.”  See you there!