Search site

Stoney Ground Herbs

Beautiful, strong herbs for NZ gardeners and herbalists of all levels

  • Home
  • About
  • Herb plants
    • Basil, Dark Opal
    • Basil, Sacred/ Tulsi
    • Basil, Spicy Globe
    • Basil, Thai
    • Bergamot, Scarlet
    • Bergamot, Wild
    • Catnip
    • Chives
    • Clary Sage
    • Echinacea
    • Elder, Black
    • Feverfew
    • French Tarragon
    • German Chamomile
    • Lemon Balm
    • Lemon Thyme
    • Lemon Verbena
    • Mint
    • Mint- Basil
    • Motherwort
    • Nutmeg Geranium
    • Oregano, Greek
    • Pennyroyal
    • Peppermint
    • Pineapple sage
    • Rose Geranium
    • Rue
    • Sage, common
    • Sage, Purple
    • Savory, Summer
    • Soapwort
    • Southernwood
    • Stevia
    • Thyme, creeping
    • Thyme, English Winter
    • Thyme, Silver Posie
    • Vietnamese Mint/Rau Ram
    • White sage
  • Dried herbs
    • Catnip, Nepeta cataria
    • German Chamomile
    • Lemon Verbena, Aloysia citriodora
    • Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca
    • Nettle (Lesser), Urtica urens
    • Peppermint, Mentha x piperita
    • Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
  • Products
    • Tinctures
  • Ordering Your Plants
  • Blog

Aphids happen to the best of us…

October 27, 2018 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

I’ve just come back from a wananga with Robert Guyton at the Oxford Street Community Gardens in Masterton~ and I’m feeling all very inspired as well as comforted by the fact that good things do take time – more so with gardens and forest gardens than even cheese!

Image result for robert guyton

Of course I knew this, we all know this, but it’s good to get reminded now and then…

One thing Robert talked about that I was going to bring up on here (I have several drafts) and that is of aphids.

Aphids on a White Sage (Salvis apiana) plant

Aphids on a White Sage (Salvia apiana) plant

They’re having a bit of a field day here at the moment.  I think because we had a relatively mild winter here (so we’re told, I though it was cold enough!) so their cycle didn’t really get broken.

I’m all for squashing them.  They love white sage and calendula, actually I’m not sure what they don’t like!  But at least squashing them on the aromatics you have nice smells whilst you’re at it.

When squashing you’ve got to do it every three days for at least a couple of weeks if you want be effective.  You’ll always miss some and the poor blighters are born pregnant.  If you have plants in pots you can dunk them in water and rub the aphids off.  If you have well sturdy plants you can try blasting them off with the hose.  And repeat.  Check for ants as well; they are industrious farmers that literally farm/manage aphids for the sweet substance they excrete after sucking your plants.

Robert Guyton talked about some plants he has in profusion on his land, for example Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) and (gasp!) Hemlock (Conium maculatum).   All Umbellifers/Apiaceae and all attractive to hoverflies, and hoverflies loove aphids.  Dill, you may flower!

Now that is a long term solution that I am into.  Ladybird larvae also eat aphids.  You are not going to get these predatory/beneficial insects if you spray with chemicals though so put them away.  Please!  

It will take some time but Nature will find its balance, that’s what it does… you could almost say it’s an expert~

 

 

Filed Under: Care and Maintenance, Gardening Styles Tagged With: aphids, aphids on white sage, apiaceae family, hoverfliies, ladybugs, new zealand, organic gardening, Robert Guyton, umbellifer family, what to do about aphids

Ladybugs!

November 22, 2015 By SandRa Timmins 1 Comment

Is it ladybugs or lady birds?  One word or two?  What does wikipedia say?  (Right, depends where you’re from and it’s one word!)  What do you call them?

I call them bloody exciting!

Especially when I spot at least four on my chamomile!

Coccinellidae, ladybug, aphids

Coccinellidae AKA ladybug

I must admit, of late it’s become apparent that I have aphids on some of my plants.  Dill was the first one to let me know, then my southernwood..  I remember Kath Irvine saying at some talk how if you’re feeling brave enough you could always leave your insect infected plant in the garden in hope that nature will do her do and bring on the beneficial insects.  Lo and behold, I have ladybugs!

If all goes to plan, there’s more of those ladybugs..they’ll get their groove on..lay thousands of eggs…hatch…and EAT!  (It’s the larvae that eat the aphids and boy do they have an appetite!)

Yaeh!  Just when I was thinking of making up a batch of neem soap spray I can spend my time writing this post instead and let the ladybirds do their thing..

 

Filed Under: Care and Maintenance, Gardening Styles Tagged With: aphids, coccinellidae, kath Irvine, ladybirds, ladybugs, natures course

Beautiful, strong herbs
for gardeners
and herbalists
of all levels.

Grown
with passion
and persistence.

Categories

  • Animals (2)
  • Care and Maintenance (26)
  • Gardening Styles (30)
  • Herbal Lore (15)
  • Herbs in Use (14)
  • Moving Gardens/New Gardens (12)
  • Pretty Pictures (9)
  • Recipes (8)
  • SGH updates (27)
  • Tomatoes (8)
  • Uncategorized (15)
  • White sage (5)

Contact/Inquiries

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Message

Friends

Industrial Furniture Design NZ
Becoming Healthy Ltd NZ

Supporting Busy People Becoming Healthy

· Copyright © 2019 · Great websites for great ideas - Help Me Net NZ ·