Those darn caterpillars seem to LOVE anything green + leafy (which is basically EVERYTHING on my balcony). They have been chomping away happily on my baby spinach. If they only stuck to one leaf I might be OK with sharing, but they seem to take a few bites out of EVERY SINGLE LEAF. And another thing, how are they even getting up to my 2nd floor balcony? I know how they get off the balcony though...I'll leave that to your imagination.
The caterpillars have also been dining out on my beans...which is not so bad considering that we're not going to be eating the bean leaves.
From above my mint plant looks REALLY healthy, but when I look closer all the leaves underneath are dead! Why. WHY? I'm thinking the pot I have them in might not be so great - it's shaped like an urn (kind of) so perhaps that is killing the bottom of the plant. I think replanting the mint at this stage might kill it altogether - I don't know what to do (HELP)! Oh, and the caterpillars also love mint...little buggers.
Speaking of dead things, what is going on with my chives people? For awhile there the whole plant sort of died, and I cannot get rid of those little dead leaves without nearly uprooting the whole bush. Mr Chive has also started to flower. I've been told that the flowers are good in salads, but I'm leaving the flower there as I'm hoping to attract some bees to the 'hood...cos my zucchinis need bees to pollinate them (at the moment I'm using an old makeup brush to help pollinate the zucchini fruit (long story...but this little video explains that I'm NOT crazy)!
And speaking of zucchini it's not all beautiful flowers and budding fruit out there. A few of my plants seem to have a "situation" going on with their leaves. Twitter has told me that the white patches on my leaves is a "white fungus" that I can try and get rid off with a milk/water spray (yes really). Some other leaves have become really papery and thin...almost like they are being sunburnt. Perhaps they need some SPF15 out there?
My parsley also seems to be suffering from sunburn (and we've only had 5 hot days this spring). I am also thinking that perhaps the dead leaves are a sign that I am over watering this poor little guy.
I've saved the best til last I promise you!
A few days ago The Boy was admiring my new sage seedlings when he noticed a white powder on the dirt. When I scrapped the dirt back I uncovered three 'clumps' of a hard creamy coloured substance that looked a bit like wax...except it also had some gold foil attached to it. At first we thought it was a fungus, but the gold foil was confusing. Maybe in the Eastern Suburbs their fungus comes with gold leaf but stuff like that just does not happen in Parramatta. I thought perhaps some really strong ants had carried up some left over Indian desserts from our downstairs neighbours but that seems improbable.
Tell me...WHAT THE HELL IS THIS STUFF?
So people this is an interactive post...I need you help, ideas, suggestions. Hit me with it!
