I am looking for Glad tristis. If anyone has some bulbs, please email me to my private email: lauragrant1947@gmail.com Many thanks Laura On Tue, Aug 22, 2023, 8:09 PM Jane McGary via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > For some years cutworms (larvae of a moth) infested my bulb house, where > they pupated in the deep plunge sand. I think I've finally got rid of > them using Bt (Bacillus thuringensis) spray on the most affected plants, > particularly the very early-flowering Fritillaria raddeana. This > insecticide is used against the larvae of Lepidoptera, particularly on > plants in the cabbage family; I don't know whether it harms anything > else. I use the iron phosphate type of slug bait in the bulb house as > well, but not in the garden. > > I happen to like snakes, and there were plenty of non-venomous ones > where I used to live in the Oregon countryside. I sometimes found them > when I pulled up groundcloth, where they were enjoying the moisture and > warmth. They were preyed on mainly by large birds such as crows; I once > watched a fascinating mid-air struggle between a crow and a small garter > snake. My big, heavy-coated dogs didn't try to kill the snakes, but they > liked to fall on them and roll, which annoyed the snakes. The > distinctive ophidian scent must have been as pleasing to the dogs as a > nice fresh pile of manure. The only problem I had with the snakes was > that they hunted my goldfish. I once caught one slithering out of a > shallow pond with a big goldfish in its mouth. I grabbed the snake, it > let go, and the fish, returned to its own habitat, survived. > > Jane McGary, Portland, Oregon, USA > > On 8/22/2023 10:05 AM, Robin Hansen via pbs wrote: > > Leigh, > > > > You have an ideal situation; I used to have one similar to yours with > similar animals, but living in a town that's close to 150 years old and has > been deprived of quite a bit of natural space means we have to do the best > we can. > > > > Illahe Rare Bulbs (Mark Akimoff) is surrounded by houses and what not so > long ago used to be country really isn't any more. That goes for a good > share of us. > > > > I doubt very many people use most or any of the pesticides and > herbicides found in such variety in stores. For one thing, they're ever > more expensive and I've found nearly all the gardeners I know are wary of > using a lot of them as they recognize the danger they create for our > children, pets and other wildlife, not to mention themselves. Even Clorox > bleach for disinfecting is something I no longer use, although if > directions are followed to the letter, it's more or less safe. I might use > one application of herbicide a year but if I have "bugs", I isolate the > infected plants and use soap or similar natural spray. > > > > That said, the public is bombarded by too many claims of this or that > danger from something and when you start digging into the facts behind the > claims, you find a single small study, not well run, with the manufacturer > or producer or other self-interested party paying for or otherwise > involved. Unfortunately not many people take the time to verify the drivel > often published as "latest break through" in media. All we can do is try to > continue educating ourselves. > > > > I know from personal observation that snakes like warm, cozy places, > under plywood out in the sun or some such structure. They certainly like > being able to crawl around my nursery as there are so many places where > they can sun themselves and eat enough slugs to be too fat to crawl through > the front door. But they sure don't like being surprised when the water > hits - good for them I don't water any more than I have to. My mother used > to complain about not seeing snakes anymore. She ignored me when I > explained that Dad out there mowing the hillside took away their habitat. > > > > Kathleen's comments on snake habitat (and lizard and skink) are very > welcome. I'd like to hear more about making sure we provide some room for > the little animals, even if all we have is a small city lot, especially if > slugs are great dessert! > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…