h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It' hard to find places like that this time of year.

How's it going,Paul?

Where to start?

--I've seen beautiful butterflies lately. Way cool!

--The floral display at the entrance to the Park is glorious: Bright red Mandevilla in the middle, and flaming yellow Zagreb Coreopsis on either side. They're in very large square green planters that boost them up to eye level.

--The leaves on some of our roses are blighted. I've put together a homemade anti-blight recipe containing baking soda, listerine, dish-washing liquid, vinegar, and vegetable oil to spray on the leaves.

--The local has been eating Yarrow. This is absolutely demented! The only animals stupid enough to eat yarrow are sheep. Speaking f which, I'm about to douse some vulnerable plants with rabbit repellent. Wish me .

--I've planted some more pale purple coneflowers. These have very long taproots that find water deep within the Earth. You won't find them succumbing to drought. And with such long roots, there's a solid anchor for very tall stems so the flowers can fly high and proud.

--The mulberries on my neighbor's tree are ripening. Some of he lowest branches are defoliated -- a sign that the has been busy eating them.

You have a hungry family maybe?

Yesterday I planted my squash seedlings in the ground in front of my home. Liquid fertilizer will be the key to my success in raising them.

Tomorrow I will plant a couple of yellow daylilies.

Sounds like a busy day tomorrow

I chased the away from the ramp at our entrance tonight. I had been eating some tiger lily buds near the road.

Not bothered by rabbits here thankfully

How much damage do they do in the garden

I'm about to go out and look. Usually the stuff the rabbit eats grows back eventually. Though if they're flowers or buds, not until the next year.

Let's hope the damage is minimal.

I hope everything else is going well.

Hello,Bob.

I've just put some more rabbit repellent on my precioussss plants. It's wonderful stuff containing garlic powder, chili powder, a squirt of soap, and some water. The whole world smells like an Italian-Mexican restaurant.

The only incongruity is that this is a flower garden, which is not *supposed* to smell like that!

A small bit of cognitive dissonance. Surely not a high price to pay?

It depends where the gardens are.

The one along the entrance ramp is visible over a low guardrail. Few people would get close enough to smell it. Some of the other gardens are the sort that you might walk past.

My sincere hope is that people who smelled the funny smell wouldn't realize what was happening.

I'm sure that they're going to be fine, and that the garden will be,too.

BTW, how is your father coming along?I hope he is doing well.

Hello you two

A gardening tip for the rabbit plagued

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/allotment-advice/human-urine-gets-rid-cats-foxes-rabbits-etc_27706.html

The best way to use is Mix with sawdust and spread on the borders, it's a lot safer than dispensing it directly from the original container.

Hello,mate!

One for the road, and sorry I missed you.

I do hope to see you again soon. My best to your family and moggies.