O Mio Babbino Caro

On Tuesday, August 7th 2012, when Juan V came to work with me in my garden (he comes every 10-12 days), he said, "we've got a real problem." 

The problem he spoke of was an infestation of spider mites on my beloved Actinida kolomikta and Actimida (Kiwi Vines), and, as many of my readers know my Actinida kolomikta has been busy peparing for the sequel to my first garden themed movie (which he narrated), titled The Kiwi Speaks! Fifteen Minutes of Fame . . . almost! 

As most gardeners know, by the time one can see spider mites, the infestation is already problematic. And since I'm visually challenged, by the time I would notice them, it would probably be too late. Even when Juan V showed them to me, I still couldn't detect them, especially on the back side of foliage.

However, I did notice that my Actinida kolomikta and Actimida (Kiwi Vines) were struggling as I was plucking off countless leaves from it because they had turned brown. I thought this was due to the intense heat waves we'd been having and that they had burned.

It was hard to believe that just a short time ago, my Actinida kolomikta and Actimida (Kiwi Vines) were thriving and even participated in a post, just a month and a day ago today, July 16th 2012, right here on Blogger in anticipation of the sequel where one of them will be reprising his role as a narrator!

And now, such a short time later, my Actinida kolomikta and Actimida (Kiwi Vines) are struggling to survive! Moreover, the spider mites, according to Juan V, were starting to invade my 'Tamukeyama', a Japanese Maple which I've referred to a number of times here on Blogger, which you may refer to by clicking here.

After losing my Mini Japanese Larch (Larix Kaempferi) such a short time ago, the concept of more things dying is overwhelming, I know that this is part of the "nature" of "nature," and with all the losses to crops in the midwest, I can't get too upset.

So, it's a short post today, dear reader, and I will return on Monday, August 20th 2012, with an upshot and or prognosis for my garden going forward.

Meanwhile, even one of the visiting house finches seems forlorn over what is happening here, as she sits on top of the string lights I have over my garden (as seen in the image at the top of today's blog entry), and surveys the premises. Little does this finch know (or does she), her "string light perch" will celebrate its birthday next Friday; just as yours truly will.

For it was last year, on August 24th 2011, that Juan V and Lucas installed my beautiful lighting, which I ultimately posted about this past September on Blogger, and if you want to refer to my entry, please click here.

Perhaps the finch is a tad bit more optimistic than I am about my garden's fate, for, in spite of her forlorn look, she has been whistling O Mio Babbino Caro, as Woodstock once did when Peppermint Patti's prospects were not looking good at the ice skating competion (you might want to see in the You Tube video posted below of the beloved Charles Schultz's character saving the day).




I don't think my visiting finch can save the day for my Actinida kolomikta and Actimida (Kiwi Vines) nor my Tamukeyama' in the way that Woodstock did for Peppermint Patty; but I have been using a powerful insecticide that Juan V recommended, and hopefully it has rid my garden of the spider mites, which even my voracious visiting finches do not want to eat.