The insects are terrible up this way too , may dub this " the year of the pest " even the mosquitos and gnats seem to be in greater numbers and extra vicious this season .
Earwigs , Japanese beetles and crabgrass may break the last straw of sanity I have left
drewtheflorist Jul 29, 2017 7:41 AM PDT
Name: Drew the Florist 14 miles S E of Pittsburgh
BIG year for Japanese beetles this year but so far no marmorated stink bugs...
teddahlia Jul 29, 2017 7:46 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Last year the marmorated stink bugs got into the house(just a very few) and when we turned off the lights to watch TV they were flying around. I have not seen them this year.
anniecan Jul 29, 2017 7:52 AM PDT
Name: Annie Luck Apex, North Carolina BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN TH
Very big year here for the Japanese Beetles and other bugs.
Every time I bring flowers inside, I end up throwing stink bugs back outside.
I've never squashed them though. I assume they stink when you do!
sylviap Jul 29, 2017 1:07 PM PDT
Name: Sylvia West Sacramento, CA Zone 9b
No beetles or stinkbugs here, but the powdery mildew is starting. Just came in from deadheading, and the lowers leaves are starting to show it. There was hardly any at all last year, and what there was, did not show until later in the season - maybe August or September. I wonder if it has anything to do with the amount of rainfall we had this year.
DillyDahlia Jul 29, 2017 1:46 PM PDT
Name: Tina NY Zone 5b/6a Flower Power!
I don't want to jinx anything...but we have no stink bugs! Yay!
I haven't seen the ladybugs show up en-mass yet and found the sweet peas pretty infested with aphids. I hate to use my ammonia spray if the ladybugs are due to arrive...Still on the fence about it but aphids carry a virus to any of the pea plants here, called "pea enation" virus.
We are still selling lots of sweet pea bouquets and I got asked to grow them next year for a little girls Jewish ceremony. next spring. I am ready to change colors now, getting bored with what I have, but as long as they sell.....
vikingcraftsman Jul 29, 2017 4:57 PM PDT
I was going to ask you Drew what you did different then the rest of us to keep bugs off your florist plants. See that you sell your flowers you must have less bugs then me.
drewtheflorist Jul 29, 2017 7:50 PM PDT
Name: Drew the Florist 14 miles S E of Pittsburgh
If something seems "buggy" I carefully dip the blooms in hot water then hold upside down to drain.
I try to only use insecticides as a last resort ---- I appreciate the bees pollination efforts .
vikingcraftsman Jul 30, 2017 10:28 AM PDT
Thanks hot water bath from now on.
blown_dry Jul 30, 2017 12:26 PM PDT
Name: Amanda CA Redwood Coast - Zone 9b DahliaAddict.com
Thanks for the tip, Drew. I have been wondering about this also, as my blooms tend to have many inhabitants.
And remember the ammonia spray...I have had no problems using it..probably best to do it in the late afternoon when the sun goes off the plants. 1/3 household ammonia to 2/3 water...spray down inside where those earwigs like to hang out. We don't have Japanese beetles so I don't know how it would work but would be interested if someone tries it and reports back to us...
sylviap Aug 1, 2017 6:48 AM PDT
Name: Sylvia West Sacramento, CA Zone 9b
Finally blooming
Island Flare
Lots of huge blooms on Ad Lib over the last month, but just getting to a picture. Such a deep, velvety color
teddahlia Aug 1, 2017 7:30 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Ad Lib was bred by a medical person(dentist?) in the Portland club eons ago. Named after the Latin phrase used on prescriptions meaning take as needed. It is a variegated flower that is white with purples dots and splashes. Some stock has sported to solid purple. It had very ragged form thought to be a big negative back when but now is very popular.
sylviap Aug 1, 2017 7:54 AM PDT
Name: Sylvia West Sacramento, CA Zone 9b
Ad lib - up close you can see small, white patches on the petals. I like it better than Regina which I planted this year, also. Regina has more red in it,
HH Funhouse - this bloom has been open for over a week in 100-degree heat. The plant and blooms show no sign of heat damage. It is a little over 5 feet tall and the blooms are 8 inches. I think the red pigment decreases as the bloom ages. I really like this one - a nice, happy flower.
Labyrinth - these blooms are beautiful!!! Unfortunately it started to bloom while we were gone and so did not notice all the buds are down in the plant. It needs to be disbudded. But, the plant is covered with buds and they are a beautiful blend of apricot and lavender-rose. I bet this would be a big hit with brides as the blooms are about 4 inches. Who wants to see something the size of Ayer's White Knight in a wedding bouquet? Trying to get a good picture of this flower.
DillyDahlia Aug 1, 2017 8:47 AM PDT
Name: Tina NY Zone 5b/6a Flower Power!
I just love the Labrynth colors. It is on my wish list for next year.
teddahlia Aug 1, 2017 9:36 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Close up of flower in a similar color range.
anniecan Aug 1, 2017 10:49 AM PDT
Name: Annie Luck Apex, North Carolina BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN TH
LOVE those colors!
I might just have to focus more on ball dahlias next year since they seem to do better in this heat.
DillyDahlia Aug 1, 2017 11:34 AM PDT
Name: Tina NY Zone 5b/6a Flower Power!
Ted, that is beautiful. Is is a flower that you will be selling? I love the colors.
LOVE those colors!