Here's one of our masterworts, or Astrantia, which I divided and replanted a couple of years ago. Half of the original plant is in the flower bed in the center of the garden and half in a pot. Dave said of these blossoms the other day, "That's not a very nice color." And it's true that it's not as bright as another of our masterworts. But I still like it, that dusty pink.
Yesterday was very quiet in the library. We got a few more books back from people who waited until the very last minute -- and incidentally, there are still quite a few out. I think the student overdue list is about three pages long at this point. The kids will just have to deal with all that in the fall. I am not a miracle-worker.
I only worked through the morning and came home around 1 p.m. -- just in time to see Olga dropped off by her dog-walker. He and I had a brief chat about her age and condition. I think he's sorry to lose her as a client after so many years, but he understands that at this point she'd probably rather just lie around the house and garden. Her last day walking with him is tomorrow.
This is a scarlet lily beetle, living on one of our Asiatic lilies. A severe infestation can defoliate a lily -- in fact, you can see the leaf directly above the insect has been nibbled. The RHS advises to tolerate them if possible, and we don't have much of an infestation so for now I'm leaving it alone. (I think they're kind of pretty, actually.) It doesn't seem to love these particular lilies, but we used to have a crown imperial fritillaria that the beetles hungrily devoured. I've picked them off and killed them by hand in the past, but it's difficult -- they're really hard. Smashing them is like trying to crush a pebble between your fingers.
So anyway, Mr. Beetle is safe for the moment. If I see a lot of larvae or eggs I'll take steps.
So anyway, Mr. Beetle is safe for the moment. If I see a lot of larvae or eggs I'll take steps.
I like that dusty pink flower too. It's good that Olga will be allowed to just dream her days away and only walk with you from now on. How old is she now? I had my Lola to the vet this morning for her "maincure" and she got weighed, has lost 300 grams since her last weigh two years ago. I've noticed her becoming thinner, but no one else sees it. She still has a good appetite though.
ReplyDeleteOlga is 14 or 15 now. We're not exactly sure. And she's skinnier too than she used to be, as often happens when creatures age.
DeleteCrushing beetles...yuk. Not something I could do ... too squeamish. I would probably try to pick them off and dispose of them somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteI could throw them into Mrs. K's garden! She's not there to mind. LOL
DeleteThe schoolkids with overdue books should be invited to meet with The Omnipotent Empress of the Library and All Its Dominions. She will strike the fear of God into those miscreants and the books will magically appear the next day. Trouble with you is that you are too goddamn nice Steve! Be more like another Steve - Steve Bannon!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of many people I would less want to be like than Steve Bannon.
DeleteI love how you balance practical gardening with appreciation for even the less showy blooms
ReplyDeleteI do appreciate even the simpler ones. Or try to, anyway.
DeleteI normally wouldn’t think much of the color of the astrantia, but it’s a beauty and the contrasts are elegant. Ugh to the beetle. I’ve crushed my share of beetles and it’s always given me the creeps.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, these beetles are tiny. I couldn't crush any larger insects. (I try not to crush any at all if I can help it.)
DeleteLily beetles are really pretty, though destructive. The astrantia is quietly beautiful - if all the flowers shouted, no-one would see them.
ReplyDeleteExactly so! It sets off those more brightly coloured
DeleteThat's a good point! We need our subtle accent blossoms. :)
DeleteThey are pretty bugs but yes, no one wants to see chawed off lilies. I'm so glad school is done for you. It feels like a rough year. Sweet Olga. I bet the walker will miss her. She has such character.
ReplyDeleteI looked this morning and didn't see any beetles at all. Maybe the birds eat them?
DeleteFor me, it was always hard to realize that a dog I had was slowing down. I am sure sweet Olga would much prefer time spent in the garden.
ReplyDeleteShe almost seems like a different dog than she did in her youth. She was so wild then!
DeleteJust catching up with your last few posts. Congratulations on the decision to retire early, now that you have the opportunity. In my circle of family/friends/acquaintances are several who have retired at the earliest possible time, and independently of each other they all say that it was the best decision they have made. For me, working life officially lasts another 10 years, and right now I do not have a problem with that, but who knows what the future holds.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I was always under the impression that Dave is the older one of the two of you. Maybe that's because in some of your posts you mentioned medical problems.
In any case, I agree with Ursula about not necessarily having to share the same TV series etc. with one's partner, although I guess you have never felt that you "have to" both like the same things.
My current Netflix watches were Dept. Q (finished last week) and now Bodkin (only seen the first two of seven episodes so far). I have developed a liking for short series of, say, maximum 8 episodes as opposed to long-running shows or feature films.
Yes, there are advantages to the so-called "limited" TV series! Thanks for the congrats on retiring, if that's what I am in fact doing. I suppose there's a small chance I may wind up working again in the future, but probably not in a full-time capacity.
DeleteThe beetle is quite pretty.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain at dismissing the dog walker. That must have been hard, but I think you did the right thing by Olga.
We probably should have done it some time ago, to be honest, but I liked the idea of her getting outside and being around other dogs for at least part of the day.
DeleteAnother phase for Olga. She's a retired dog now. I expect the walker was sad, because you do get attached to animals you take care of. But I bet they've noticed the slowing down.
ReplyDeleteI think she was driving him crazy, honestly. She's very slow and he has a lot of dogs to keep track of!
DeleteBugs need love, too???
ReplyDeleteOr at least mercy!
DeleteI like that pink color. Not a beetle but have you ever tried to kill a velvet ant? Not ants really but wingless wasp with a horrendous sting. Those things are impossible to kill even with a soft body. Generally takes smashing it between two hard surfaces.
ReplyDeleteI think instead of houding the kids to return their books I'd just wait and hand their parents a bill for the book and see how fast they get returned.
It's amazing how resilient bugs can be! I don't think I've tried to kill a velvet ant, at least not that I can remember. Not sure I've ever seen one.
DeleteOh, and the problem with going straight to the parents is it absolves the kid of any responsibility. I'm trying to teach them to take care of these problems on their own.
DeleteThat is actually one of my favorite colors. Dusty rose. Or dusty pink. It is an evocative color, I think. And the flowers themselves are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat beetle does not go to great lengths to disguise its presence, does it?
I know -- you'd think it would really stand out to predators! Maybe it tastes terrible.
DeleteI like Ellen's idea of billing the parents the cost of the missing books. They might get them returned then.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you didn't enjoy your library job as much as you used to. One more year and you can do whatever you want.
I do go to parents eventually, but only if I get absolutely nowhere with the kids over a period of months. The book itself is secondary to the lessons learned through the process about being responsible.
DeleteI like that dusty rose color. You will have some time for more gardening in the days ahead.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, and I am looking forward to it!
DeleteBeetle is a word I always struggle with. I always want to spell it like the British band.
ReplyDeleteHa! Pop culture has transformed our brains!
DeleteDusty rose was the color of my bridesmaids' dresses in 1984. It was a very popular color! I don't like beetles much although their shells (?) can be quite pretty.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do remember it being a very fashionable color in the '80s.
DeleteI can't imagine not returning a book to a library, or allowing my child to do that. Seems very entitled.
ReplyDeleteAs for scarlet lily beetles, we have them here too and have destroyed most of my lilies. The best way to kill them is to drown them, plus it's very satisfying.
Oh, drowning! I didn't even think of that. Amazing that they can live in your climate too. They seem very adaptable.
DeleteMakes me think about killing ticks, whether filled with blood or not. We have something called a "tick key" which makes removal (and killing) easier.
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to kill them with pliers -- just squeeze them right on the dog. But I think that's bad because it forces the "tick juice" back into the animal.
DeleteThere's something in my lilies. I use a soap spray and it seems to control them. One thing for sure is that beetle is easily seen.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if you had lily beetles, you'd know it!
DeleteI like the dusty rose color, it's not showy, but is pretty. Will Olga miss her dog walker?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't think so. She always wants to stay home and only goes with him reluctantly. She is a homebody.
DeleteI am glad school's out for you. You'll enjoy time and Olga in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to it! Thanks, e.
DeleteI remember when you got Olga. Hard to believe it’s been so many years. We’ve all fallen in love with her.
ReplyDeleteWe've had her 12 and a half years now, and she was two or three when we got her. Amazing!
DeleteThe beetle "is" pretty. I like the scarlet color. Sad to hear about Olga's decline but that's all part of being a pet owner.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is. It comes with the territory.
DeleteHopefully more anomaly than foreshadowing.
ReplyDeleteYou mean the beetle or Olga? I see those beetles now and then but they usually just come singly or in pairs, so I'm not too worried about a full invasion
Delete