Ladybirds, Mother, Sunset
May. 28th, 2025 07:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smokingbootIn the end I bought 50, because aphids have overtaken both sides of the garden. Followed the instructions, though the advice about using a pencil to place them on the infected plants is just nonsense. They determinedly ignored the pencil in favour of my fingers, hands, arms. One gave me the teeniest bite so I found it a big plant stuffed with snacks to make up for it being slightly freaked.
Today, no ladybirds. No aphids either.
It's uncanny, positively eerie in fact. The ladybirds will have flown off but maybe they'll stay in the general vicinity, cos I inevitably have merry legions of thrips for them to pursue later in the year, not to mention returning aphid armies determined to avenge their fallen comrades. Apparently though, mine has not been the most efficient approach; voracious as ladybirds are, their larvae leave them far behind in terms of appetite, plus they cannot fly away yet. Next time maybe I'll get some larvae. But ladybirds are so much prettier!
I may consider a ladybird house to help them over winter.
Phoned mum last night. She said she could not text/reply to messages over the past three days because she has been very tired, but I could hear the sore throat in her voice and asked her about it. She will not take a covid test, will not get vaccinated, and has no idea how she can possibly have a cold because she follows all the advice she finds on Youtube about how to avoid such things, and she never shares space with people if she can help it. Nonetheless, I hope I have convinced her into monitoring the situation carefully, not just telling herself she is better. This is the first time I have ever used the phrase 'you are of an age' to her. She was able to hear that without any emotional difficulty because she used to nurse people 'of an age,' and however she may discredit covid, remembers well the power of pneumonia. She asks me if I remember her ever having a cold when we were at home and the truth is I don't. She says her throat feels hot, and it feels like there is something in it when she swallows or speaks.
The easiest way I can monitor this is to speak to her every day. This is difficult for two reasons; eventually she cannot hear me, on account of the 'hooligan' who does strange things to her phone. Also, she insists on having no electricity in her home so relies on batteries, which magically run out of power very quickly. Getting these recharged entails her going to the shop. I am very worried about her facing difficulty and not being able to phone for help. It uses up less power if we text but then I can't gauge her voice. In any case - I have only realised this just now - my mother will never enter a hospital willingly.
Maybe it's just a cold. I must speak to my brother about all this.
[Edited to add a reminder of the glorious sunset last night. No photos, cos cameras almost never catch the feeling.]
Today, no ladybirds. No aphids either.
It's uncanny, positively eerie in fact. The ladybirds will have flown off but maybe they'll stay in the general vicinity, cos I inevitably have merry legions of thrips for them to pursue later in the year, not to mention returning aphid armies determined to avenge their fallen comrades. Apparently though, mine has not been the most efficient approach; voracious as ladybirds are, their larvae leave them far behind in terms of appetite, plus they cannot fly away yet. Next time maybe I'll get some larvae. But ladybirds are so much prettier!
I may consider a ladybird house to help them over winter.
Phoned mum last night. She said she could not text/reply to messages over the past three days because she has been very tired, but I could hear the sore throat in her voice and asked her about it. She will not take a covid test, will not get vaccinated, and has no idea how she can possibly have a cold because she follows all the advice she finds on Youtube about how to avoid such things, and she never shares space with people if she can help it. Nonetheless, I hope I have convinced her into monitoring the situation carefully, not just telling herself she is better. This is the first time I have ever used the phrase 'you are of an age' to her. She was able to hear that without any emotional difficulty because she used to nurse people 'of an age,' and however she may discredit covid, remembers well the power of pneumonia. She asks me if I remember her ever having a cold when we were at home and the truth is I don't. She says her throat feels hot, and it feels like there is something in it when she swallows or speaks.
The easiest way I can monitor this is to speak to her every day. This is difficult for two reasons; eventually she cannot hear me, on account of the 'hooligan' who does strange things to her phone. Also, she insists on having no electricity in her home so relies on batteries, which magically run out of power very quickly. Getting these recharged entails her going to the shop. I am very worried about her facing difficulty and not being able to phone for help. It uses up less power if we text but then I can't gauge her voice. In any case - I have only realised this just now - my mother will never enter a hospital willingly.
Maybe it's just a cold. I must speak to my brother about all this.
[Edited to add a reminder of the glorious sunset last night. No photos, cos cameras almost never catch the feeling.]
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