It’s definitely summer. I can’t go in the garden at night without a spider or mosquito bites.
My first red dahlia
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Looking back to winter…overall what was the worst bug issue up to now? & on what kinda plants?
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The fuckwigs aka pincher bugs! All plants! Now it’s crapapiller babies
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@anon95954822 I’m having problems with my papaver. I got 2 new flowers but they are dangling and wonky. Do you keep your Grams plants pretty dry? I’m wondering if mine are over watered. Any suggestions?
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Mine too …and 20 characters 
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@Meesh I’m not sure (actually I know I am not lol) I am an expert on poppies by any means, but if I can help I will try…
Normally, from when they have sprouted to now, it is usually fairly damp just because of Spring rains… I only water if it’s been hot and dry and my soil gets that “thirsty” look… Believe it or not, I find LITFA has worked better than me fussing over them over the years…
But, yeah, I only water when necessary really, otherwise it’s just watch them grow… They don’t get any nutrients other than rainwater or well water and they grow well… I forgot to give them support, and one of the new ones did a “flop” so I gently raised it and propped it up and it has since begun to bloom… I’ll add some pics later…
Peace
DaFozz
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Maybe that’s my problem. I didn’t even think to stake them. The flower stem turned black and just drooped over. I have to water my yard as rain is scarce and the only fertilizing they get is the drenches per the soil test. My prized Lilac twig is in the same bed (supposedly it doesn’t like overwatering or fert either) and it’s thriving. Quite honestly, the soil seems to be a perfect moist to me. Maybe it’s my climate, although my boyfriends sisters did really well. She did pull them out before they were done flowering though. Maybe the 2 months of what we call May gray and June gloom did these flowers in. It did cause pm on my zinnias and sunflowers. Humidity and overcast skies. Luckily, literally yesterday, Mother Nature turned on the sun and blew out the clouds. Went from 68 to 75. Summer is gonna be hot and long judging from our mild spring.
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Some really hardcore spider must have bit me. Maybe a black widow. It was small last night, now the area around it like silver dollar size is hard as a rock and it’s oozing. Doesn’t itch, just pain. This is in the bend of my knee
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Crap! I have another one on the same leg. They are starting to blister. It’s gotta be a recluse or black widow. Hope I don’t need to hit the urgent care.
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I went out and took some pics of the flop, etc… it’s dark out, so they aren’t great…
And a couple daylight pics…
Peace
DaFozz
p.s. I always “know” I have to support them at a certain point, I just get sidetracked with everything else and am “reminded” during the first good windstorm…lol
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Cmon Accountant-lady just go 
or at least deduct your legs from your taxes!
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I’m getting nervous actually. I have 2 and they have started to blister. and the red ring around them is huge now
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@anon95954822 yep. That’s what mine did. Next flowers I will stake. I think these are too late
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Before you’re crippled with either anxiety or actual cripple-itis from the bastards in your yard, please get off to the ER & bill it to your clients.
Ignoring health problems is bad stuff.
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At the urgent care now. I am the only patient here. That’s so unbelievable
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They’ll get ya fixed up 
Glad you went. Either one of those spiders can cause some nasty damage untreated.
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So, it wasn’t a recluse luckily. Doc says I am severely allergic to bug bites. It’s infected so I’ll fill the antibiotics tmw. Not sure it was even a spider, said it could have been anything. Ugh! Not good news for this gardener. I’m gonna have to spray OFF now just to go in the garden.
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I’m now at the Emergency room. Bite got even worse. Probably gonna be waiting forever
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Wow, needless to say that really sucks!
Sorry to hear about your unfortunate, unwarranted, vicious insect attack.
It is part of the joy of working with Mother Nature, sadly.
It was very wise of you to go to Emergency room.
I hope you feel better soon!
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Me wise. 
@Meesh I’m glad you surrendered to reality for a minute and will be more glad when you’re back, mended, gardening in your thigh-high, lace-up garden clogs. 
@Ghandisflipflop had nothing to do with this! 
I was the “canary in the coal mine” when my mom’s place had bed-bugs 
which kicked me into crazy town. Worst itching I can recall, I’m apparently allergic, and I ended up going OCD with extermination. A pest control guy came out & was surprised & said it was the only time he’d seen a homeowner likely succeed in ridding them. 
I still didn’t trust his opinion & didn’t sleep in the guest room for another 2 years, as their eggs can last 1.5 yrs.
5 years out & it’s still free of those fuckers. Probably used too much DE for a home but oh well.
I think some “gardening pants” 
(
trousers) may be better than spraying insect repellant.
Thanks for going to the Doctory.
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