Black – and – Yellow Argiope

The Argiope or garden spider is common in Carolina gardens. The yellow and black coloration and the zigzag web design are very distinctive.

This spider feeds on flying insects. Alternatively, I have witnessed a Cardinal swoop and hover in front of a web, and devour the spider.

Last winter, I had to rescue a Carolina Chickadee caught in an old spider web. The poor thing had worn itself out trying to break free. As I pulled on the web strand, I was amazed at the strength of the material. Ironically, it was a web in the same bush of the aforementioned devoured spider. Was the spider seeking poetic justice from the grave?

 Predator and Prey

This photo shows the Argiope web with remnants of a Tiger Swallowtail at the bottom of the web.

Composting

Home composting gives the gardener a source of rich organic matter to improve their soil. It also keeps those vegetable scraps out of landfills and sewer systems via garbage disposals. There are many composting techniques. I’ll report on my small-scale composting experiences.

Container

Trash can used for Compost 

A closed container like a plastic garbage can works fine. A secure top keeps raccoons and rodents from raiding your compost bin. I have ¼ inch holes in the top to allow rain into the bin. I also have a large circle cut out of the bottom for drainage. The tape is covering ventilation holes on the side. An industrious animal pulls compost materials through the holes at night.

Purchased Compost Container

There are commercially available bins. I also own a plastic drum that rolls for easy agitation of bin contents.

Location

A compost bin may attract flies and have odors. Keep this in mind when placing it. You will need to add water to your bin so place it in reach of a water supply.

Contents

I started my compost with some soil from the garden. In a typical week, I add the following to my bin:

Coffee grounds and filters

Tea bags

Old and moldy bread and crackers

Vegetable scraps

Grass clippings

Leaves

Lint from the dryer

Things I don’t add to the compost bin:

Fruit – attracts ants

Eggshells- messy and seem to attract flies

Once you have your container, starter soil, and material to be composted you are ready to go.

Remember these key principals of composting:

• Water is needed to keep the microorganisms alive

• Agitation is needed to keep the microorganisms alive

Do you see a theme here? The microorganisms drive the composting process. Keep the compost moist, but not muddy.  Agitate as frequently as you can. This exposes the microorganisms to new compost materials.

Compost Agitator Tool

Update: December 26, 2012

Completed Compost after 9 months

Tobacco Hornworm on Tomato Plants(Includes Video)

This caterpillar of the Carolina Sphinx Moth is common to southern tomato gardens. They have spectacular camouflage so their droppings and damage to plants are observed before the worm is seen. They can reach a length of 4 inches.

Once found, remove hornworms from the plant immediately. They are very slow and easy to scrape into a container.

 Defoliation of tomato plant caused by Hornworm

Hornworm with parasitic wasp larvae

Video of Tobacco Hornworm on Tomato Plant

Deer in the Garden: A Love Hate Relationship

Deer at the Bird Feeders

I am thrilled to see deer meandering through the woods skirting my property. The spotted fawns are so cute. 

Sadly, our electric-fenced vegetable garden was breached by deer that destroyed the pepper plants and defoliated the tomato plants as well as eating entire clusters of cherry tomatoes. The devastation was complete. All that was left was squash and eggplant.

Our 4 foot high 5-strand electrified fence was 3-sided. The 4^th side was a wire fence covered with brambles and vines. That was non-electric access into the garden. The other vulnerability is that deer can jump a 4 foot fence.

 My husband was disgusted with the carnage. He threw down a perimeter of tarpaulins reasoning a horse would spook at walking on a tarp so maybe a deer would too.

After the peppers had fresh new growth, the tarps were breached as well, and more destruction ensued. One of the culprits was spotted in the early morning hours, and made his frantic escape losing hair on the non-electric fence.

This time, my solution was to use temporary stakes and add electricity to the 4^th side plus a series of wires running parallel through the garden. It’s a labyrinth of wire-both hot and cold. It’s sure to annoy the heck out of the deer, and maybe it’ll keep them from finishing off the struggling plants.

Electrified fence is my answer to deer problems, but now I must amend that with a higher fence requirement. 4 feet is too short, so perhaps 6 or 8 feet will do the trick. I am not a fan of chemical deer sprays because they are expensive and need to be reapplied after rain. I know deer dislike prickly squash so I’ll try planting tomato plants inside a perimeter of squash next year.

Update: August 23, 2012

The labyrinth of wire added to keep the deer out worked! 

Pepper plants that were chewed in half on two different occasions have sprouted peppers to be harvested next week. Likewise, the tomato plants recovered, and we’re looking for things to do with all the tomatoes. After the deer debacle, I let many tomatoes and peppers grow from last year’s dropped seeds, and those plants have also produced tomatoes and jalapeño peppers. It’s not the prettiest garden, but it’s yielding wonderful vegetables.

The lesson is to not give up when deer [or bugs] rampage your garden. Come up with creative solutions to keep them out the next time. A garden can recover.

Gluten - Free Peach Cobbler

It’s peach season and here’s a very easy gluten-free cobbler recipe.

Ingredients:

½ stick of butter or margarine
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk (I used skim)
1 cup gluten-free Bisquick mix
2 cups fresh peaches 

1. Melt the margarine in a 9 inch square pan in a 350 F oven.

2. By hand mix sugar, Bisquick, and milk together in a bowl.

3. Pour over melted butter and do not stir.

4. Evenly distribute peaches on top of batter.

5. Bake for 40 minutes allowing the top to brown.

A Fun Recipe for Jalapeños

If you find yourself with an abundant harvest of Jalapenos, this is a recipe we use for an appetizer or main dish.

1. Wash and core peppers. Remove seeds.

2. Spread cream cheese inside pepper.

3. Wrap in bacon.

4. Place on cookie sheet and cook for 45 minutes at 400 F or until bacon is done.

Update 3/15/2015:  A video of this recipe is available here. 

At the end of Summer 2014, we had more jalapenos than we could eat. I prepared the poppers for freezing by keeping the vegetable whole. I sliced a lengthwise cut shaped like an "L." Through this opening I removed the seeds and added cream cheese. Then I closed the flap with a toothpick run through the jalapeno. I froze them first on a cookie sheet and them moved them to a  freezer bag.

Today I cooked the jalapenos from frozen after wrapping a half slice of bacon around using the toothpick as an anchor. Cooking as instructed above, they were delicious.

Frozen Jalapeno Poppers

Bacon Wrapped Frozen Poppers

Cooked Jalapeno Poppers

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Harvesting and Cooking Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash is ready for harvest when the color is predominantly yellow. The stem may have a dried appearance. Cut the stem and avoid touching it as it’s very prickly.

Store in a cool, dry place. Spaghetti squash will keep for months.

Preparation:

Wash the outside of the squash.

Cut the stem end off.

Pierce the skin several times with a fork.

Cook in the microwave for 5 minutes. The skin should give slightly to pressure.

Depending on the size of the squash and power of the microwave, additional or less time may be required.

I cooked a 12 inch long squash (large) for 8 minutes in a 1200 watt microwave.

The squash should be cooled before handling further. I usually microwave the squash one day, refrigerate it, and prepare it further another day. 

Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop the pulp and seeds out of the squash.

With a fork, scrape the meat, and it will release from the skin in spaghetti strands.

Sauté the spaghetti strands in olive oil and margarine for about 10 minutes. Serve.

Alternately, add spaghetti sauce. Serve.

Managing Japanese Beetles

Hibiscus - A favorite of Japanese Beetles

As reported previously, Japanese beetle numbers are down significantly. What can you do with the few persistent beetles on your flowers? 

The commercial beetle traps contain pheromones or mating hormones that attract beetles to the trap. 

This trap will draw beetles from all over the neighborhood to your yard. Do not go that route.

I keep a plastic container with soap solution in my garage. When I see beetles on flowers, I knock them into the container and close it. The bugs are slow and sluggish thus easily caught.  I also use old lotion or perfume in the place of soap when making homemade beetle traps.

Zucchini Recipe

1. Using a food processor or grater, shred 2-3 zucchini. Drain in colander or on paper towels.

2. Sauté in olive oil in large sauce pan.

3. Add drained Hillshire Farm Beef Sausage that has been sliced and heated in microwave.

4. Move zucchini sausage mixture to the side, and scramble 3 eggs in the pan.

5. Mix eggs into zucchini mixture along with seasoning like oregano.

6. Top with grated cheddar cheese, and cover until cheese melts. 

VEGETARIAN: skip step 3 leaving out the sausage

Zucchini hiding in the garden