Harlequin Ladybirds

The Harlequin ladybird spotted in my sister in laws garden last week

My brother has been busy tracking down our family tree.  It’s something that I have been interested in doing for a long time but I have always got distracted after a couple of minutes and generations.  What he has unveiled, mainly down to new websites that have centuries of information stored,  makes for a fascinating read and the further back he goes, the more interesting it gets.  I did know that somewhere along the line we had a French Countess and a few Yorkshire mill owners and also knew that any wealth accumulated by them had been watered down and dispersed amongst ancestors.  One notable relation retired at 21 because he went bald (then won the crufts with his own breed of whippets before retiring to Switzerland to take in the air) and  also a great-great grandmother who decided to live in a penthouse apartment in a seaside hotel for over 30 years, again to take in the fresh air.  

So far the search has revealed connections to Norman invaders to the Franks, Charlemagne, the King of the Germans, Saxons, Romans and finally to pre Romans in Asia Minor (Turkey). So I have French, Italian, Nordic, German ancestors and one line goes back to 60BC.  The research highlights how we humans move around the planet constantly. I’m keeping the tradition going by moving house more than 30 times over the years.

It’s not only humans

It’s not only people that are always on the move.  If you look at the plant world there are a lot of different species that grow happily here from other climates.  It’s not always a perfect match though as the Australians can prove with their rabbit and bitou weed problem, both were introduced to combat other problems and become ones themselves. I can’t actually think of one example of a plant or insect introduced into an ecosystem to eradicate another problem working over the longterm. The latest failure in this regard brought to my attention last week appears to be the Harlequin Ladybird that was introduced as a predator to get rid of greenfly.  So far the problem has avoided most of Ireland but now Belfast, Dublin and Cork have had sightings of this predator that not only kills greenfly, but other ladybirds too.  A single female can lay over a thousand eggs so their spreading fast.

Origins

The harlequin ladybird is a native of eastern Asia and has been introduced into many countries as a biological control agent against aphid and scale infestations in greenhouses, crops and gardens. Populations have now established in North America, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Belgium, Holland, Greece and Egypt, UK and now Ireland. 

Arrival in the UK and Ireland

The harlequin ladybird arrived in Britain in 2004 probably by a variety of routes. Some have probably flown across the channel, others have been found on flowers imported from Europe, and in packing cases from Canada.

Habitat range

The ladybirds have strong dispersal capabilities and can be found in many places. Most commonly found on deciduous trees, such as lime, sycamore and maple, and on low growing plants such as nettles. Will also inhabit reedbeds, coniferous woodland and crop systems.

Feeding

Harlequin ladybirds feed most commonly on aphids, but have a wide food range, also feeding on scale insects, adelgids, the eggs and larvae of butterflies and moths, many other small insects, including other ladybirds, pollen, nectar, and sugary fluids, including honeydew and the juice from ripe fruits.

Problems

Threat to wildlife -

• Harlequin ladybirds can seriously affect native ladybird species
• Harlequin ladybirds are very effective aphid predators and have a wider food range and habitat than most other aphid predators (such as the 7-spot ladybird) and so easily out-compete them.
• Harlequin ladybirds do not have a requirement for a dormant period before they can reproduce, as some ladybirds have (e.g. 7-spot and eyed ladybirds), and so have a longer reproductive period than most other species.
• When aphids are scarce, harlequin ladybirds consume other prey including ladybird eggs, larvae and pupae, butterfly and moth eggs and caterpillars.
• Harlequin ladybirds can disperse rapidly over long distances and so have the potential for rapid geographic expansion.

Identifying Harlequin ladybirds

The problem of the Harlequin ladybird hasn’t been highlighted much in Ireland so that might be why there are not many sightings, that and the fact that the ladybirds look very similar to the ones we normally see.  There is a chart on the harlequin-survey.org website showing the differences between the two species.  You can see on my image of one frolicking in my sister in laws garden that some types are very easy to identify.

If you do spot one in the garden please report it to the harlequin-survey.org website where they have a form to fill in that updates the sightings map on the website. Alternatively let me know and I will pass the information on.

Green Gungy Stuff

Green Gungy Graffiti

I decided to make some of the moss graffiti paste this week.  I did two lots, one made with buttermilk, moss and water retaining gel and the other one I substituted the buttermilk with a fine can of ale that I bought from the local off licence. The kitchen looked a bit of a gungy mess when I had finished as I seriously underestimated the sheer size of the retaining gel when it has absorbed the water

In the blender.  If you have ever seen a nappy when it is full this will give you an idea how much it can grow when wet, our cakes might have a green hue in them for a while.  I have three large containers of the slime in the fridge now and after drawing a couple of things on our shed wall I have run out of ideas where to put the remainder of the mix.  The main reason for this is the realisation that after the initial image gets established, the moss will just keep on growing until it has covered everything around it, especially if it on a sheltered north facing wall.  I need to handle it with care, or throw it into the compost bin, which is the most likely place for it to end up as mould seems to be pushing the lids off the containers.

Manure

Having moved house recently we needed to find a new source of good quality well rotted horse manure for the garden.  This we have done this week and I must say it’s the best I have ever collected.  It’s fine, like compost and full of earthworms.  We took advantage of the dry weather and collected as much as the car suspension would allow putting it into old coal bags which are now happily waiting to be dug in or added to the top of the soil as mulch.  I have sectioned off a bit of the garden with chicken wire to keep the dogs off so we can hopefully start very soon putting up the small vegetable plants that are growing quickly at the moment. The slower growing plants that will be in the ground for a long time like purple sprouting broccoli, these need to go in very soon as do the courgettes. The courgettes seem to be very slow in starting this year, they should pick up soon though as the soil is very warm.  There isn’t as much urgency with successive sowing vegetables like peas, beans and salad crops as these will shoot up really quickly.  We’re not putting ourselves under any pressure to get growing this year though as we actually thought that we wouldn’t have time to grow anything in the ground until next year, so even if we get a tiny amount of produce we will be very happy. 

WIN 2 GREAT GARDENING BOOKS IN THE POETRY COMPETITION

There have been some great poems sent into us already but keep the great poems coming to be in with a chance of winning the two great gardening books I have to give away to the lucky winner.   The first book by Klaus Laitenberger titled ‘Vegetables for the Polytunnel and Greenhouse’ tells you everything you need to know about growing your own vegetables, care, planting, weed control and more.  The second book written by myself is an 80 page manual all about making your own raised beds with lots of pictures.  Titled ‘Raised Beds for the Organic Garden’ is available as an e-book, so you will need a computer, Kindle or similar.

How to Enter

All you have to do is be creative and write a poem with a garden related theme. The poem can be about your favourite plant, season, environment, composting, digging, tools, vegetables, weeding, fruit, slugs and snails, in fact anything gardening related. 

Judging

The poems will be read and judged by Gareth Austin from Newtowncunningham who is the resident expert gardener on the Mark Patterson show on radio Foyle.

When you have penned your poem please send it to me at info@gardening.ie   or drop it into the Inishowen Independent office. 

There will also be a few of my e-books offered to the runners up.  The closing date is Friday 15^th of June so you have just one week to send in your finished poem. The winner and a few runners up will have their masterpieces published here in the coming weeks.  Good luck and have fun!

Inishowen Independent Gardening Competition

WIN 2 GREAT GARDENING BOOKS.

As a celebration of the fabulous summer we are having I would like to give everyone a chance to win 2 fabulous gardening books.  The first book by Klaus Laitenberger titled ‘Vegetables for the Polytunnel and Greenhouse’ tells you everything you need to know about growing your own vegetables, care, planting, weed control and more.  The second book written by myself is an 80 page manual all about making your own raised beds with lots of pictures.  Titled ‘Raised Beds for the Organic Garden’ is available as an e-book, so you will need a computer, Kindle or similar.

How to Enter

All you have to do is be creative and write a poem with a garden related theme. The poem can be about your favourite plant, season, environment, composting, digging, tools, vegetables, weeding, fruit, slugs and snails, in fact anything gardening related. 

Here is a poem to get you in the mood, written by landscape architect Jane Garrison. Her own experiences of gardening seem to be a bit on the challenging side to say the least!  Sing it to the ‘Clementine’ tune.

Oh My Garden

Oh my garden. My poor garden

I can see the moles and slugs.

But here's the full meal deal.

It must have disease and bugs.

Black and sticky. Oh how icky

on all my evergreens.

Sooty mould needs a washing

to avoid this nasty scene.

Lightly stippled. Not a good thing.

It's the teeny spider mite.

Nice to have the pretty lacewing

who loves the mite to bite.

Stunted new growth puckers leaves.

Scale, aphids and white flies.

Spray with water, just plain water,

and only good bugs will survive.

Pale foliage, tan and grey

with deformed buds and tips.

Looks like seersucker pucker.

And I've got a bunch of thrips.

Brown splotches on my dogwoods.

show up late in the spring.

A big dose of anthracnose

will make me do some pruning.

Brown and black spots, even scabs

and shot holes on my trees.

It is a Dalmatian sensation.

And it winters in rotting debris.

Tiny bites from sides of leaves.

There are many, many notches.

Root weevils got my rhodies.

Must now do night watches.

They say a blast of plain water

will wash away the goo.

Oh my goodness. What is that stuff?

Rusty pustules give me pains.

Rust is fungus that lives among us,

because here it always rains.

Plants are floppy, really droopy.

What are they trying to prove

Is it too dry, wet or shady.

I guess they will have to move.

Rotten buds and stunted growth now.

I think I am near the end.

The plants have root rot.

My song is over.

I will need to make amends.

Judging

The poems will be read and judged by Gareth Austin from Newtowncunningham who is the resident expert gardener on the Mark Patterson show on radio Foyle.

When you have penned your poem please send it to me at info@gardening.ie  or drop a copy into the Inishowen Independent office.

There will also be a few of my e-books offered to the runners up.  The closing date is Friday 15^th of June so you have 2 weeks to send in your poem..

Innovation, Moss Graffiti and Miniature Baskets

 

Innovation in the garden is the topic for this week, inspired by Noel Joyce and his recent visit on the Dragons’ Den.  Noel came up with the idea to fix frames onto wooden fences and sheds for hanging plant pots in and has called the invention the ‘Breezy Garden Plant Holder’.  For me it was a case of “Why didn’t I think of that” Sean O’Sullivan, one of the Dragons thought it was such a good idea he invested in it, so they will be on the DIY shelves very soon. I have put my creativity to good use and come up with a few suggestions of my own for innovation in the garden.  I’m not sure if anyone will invest in me though!

Trampoline
Here’s a great idea for making good use of all of those neglected trampolines scattered about the back gardens on the peninsula.  The base makes a perfect framework for a chicken enclosure.  Get a roll of chicken wire and unroll it around the legs of the trampoline; if the top bouncy bit is ripped this can be covered with wire netting too. The chicken house could be attached to the enclosure somehow ( I haven’t thought this through too well, the Dragons would eat me alive) The only reservation I would have with this would be if the kids got onto the trampoline and stated bouncing. I think you would have a few more eggs laid that day.

Making Moss Graffiti
I went through a phase of making seed bombs a few years ago and hopefully the effects of these are still being felt in the hedgerows. I only used naturalised seeds and merely re distributed them.  Now the next stage of the eco warrior world is upon us and it’s called Moss Graffiti.  I’m not sure if I have the nerve to do this in public places so I will probably just play with it in my back garden and not even consider getting outside investments from the Dragons. I have a few walls that could do with brightening up and could benefit from a dab of buttermilk.  Here’s how you create the solution should you decide to make your mark on a wall, or any other stationary object for that matter, this idea will work well on Belfast sinks and other small alpine garden planters.

                                          Photo: Just one idea for moss painting graffiti.

How to do it
Bearing in mind this is not an exact science you could add more or less depending on what you were going to do with the solution. This mix will make a decent statement.

•    Collect 3-4 hands full of moss and put in a blender with 700ml of luke warm water.
•    Add 3-4 tablespoons of water retaining gel (you can get small packs from most garden outlets)
•    Add 120 ml of buttermilk
•    Pulse the blender until the gel forms, which doesn’t take long.
•    Pour the mix into a bucket.
•    Paint onto rough concrete or wooden surfaces.
•    Here’s the tricky bit.  You will need and keep an eye on the weather, if it’s dry, mist weekly to make sure the moss re-grows.  The water retaining gel will be of benefit here. 
•    After about three weeks you should see your artwork growing in front of you.

Please send in photos of your creativity, I would love to see it. One tip: If you are going to do this as a graffiti venture, don’t write your own name! I speak from experience.

Miniature Baskets
I came across some miniature woven baskets last week that caught my attention.  I particularly enjoy small art at the moment and spend my quieter moments making ACEO cards. ACEO cards are 2.2x3.5 inches in size and can be of anything you like but I have found the most popular ones are pictures of cats for some reason and sell for about 1 euro each so no investment here either unless I can sell a few million of them.  The tiny woven baskets are made from pine needles and woven together in much the same way you would weave with willow or hazel.  The finished baskets could only fit a cherry tomato or a couple of hair grips into it, but that’s not the point, they are lovely in their own right. These won’t sell for that much either so again I can’t see any big investment coming my way. I’ll keep pottering in the shed, one of the world’s most creative of places.

 

Photos: Miniature basket weaving from Wilderness Survival School

Green Workshops highlighting Biodiversity Day
Here’s something that’s definitely worth investing in, time wise anyway.  The environmental organisation Global Action Plan Ireland (GAP) focuses on informing and educating individuals about sustainable living and environmental issues.  To highlight biodiversity day 2012, GAP will host a day of green workshops, ranging from-rainwater harvesting, compost "how to", attracting wildlife, planting advice and tips and even a fairtrade cup of tea. The venue is in Ballymun Dublin 11 on Tuesday May 22nd. It’s a bit of a distance from us here in Inishowen but I am sure our readers around the Dublin area would find it a very informative and fun day. For more information check out the Global Action Plan Facebook page.