Pink and White Blooms and many spider mites

Snapdragon blooming nicely now.

I want to make this post not all about the bad things. There isn't much time for me to write tons of things on spider mites. I have to go to class soon, so I have to get ready, make copies, and get gas then drive 20 minutes to school. My snapdragon is blooming wonderful. While looking at my snapdragon I noticed my lemon balm wasn't looking right. The lemon balm I don't normally pay attention to because it's done so well. Upon inspection I saw grey blotches and was hoping not to find anything. Sadly, I did find tons of spider mites. All underneath the lemon balm leaves were spidermites. I got my neem oil and sprayed but I couldn't get it to cover the underside of the leaves. So I came out the next day with some water and some soap and sprayed the undersides. Then shot it again the next day with some just plain water. I think I got most of them off but I need to go squirt them again with some water. I don't know what happened. It's so sad when I get plants with these bugs on them. My chocolate mint is forever infested with aphids and ants and I'll be throwing that out.
It got me thinking though if these sick plants are protecting the other plants from getting these aphids and spider mites. I know that probably not the case at all. I wish I could let nature take it's course but I don't seem to have any insects around that get rid of aphids of spider mites. I had a leaf footed bug that had been sitting in my lemon balm for months but it didn't stop any of the spider mites and I don't think it's a beneficial at all. Beneficial insects don't come to my balcony. I only ever see the occasional grass hopper, maybe a bee and a wasp a day, many ants, and that's all. The bees don't stay long either. They hover for a minute then go off. Anyone with ideas on weather to keep these sickies or just rid of them. I'm still trying on the lemon balm to see if it gets better. I need to research on spider mites. When I did look a little about them and lemon balm it seems they do like it. Maybe I'll just have to find another plant that doesn't attract these spider mites and other bad things.


A white candytuft flowering.

Garden Blogger Bloom Day

Buds on my Snapdragon

Today is my first garden blogger bloom day. I've never been able to participate because I never have any blooms. Carol at Maydreamsgardens is the wonderful person that created Bloom Day. Go visit her blog and see other bloggers who blogged today about their blooms.


My snapdragon getting ready to bloom.


Another bud on my Snapdragon

First I'll start with my Snapdragon. I have been awaiting these flowers since i purchased the plant in December i think. This snapdragon was bought as a small plant with one bud. It has grown and grown taller since then and produced another bud. Now I await for the blooming.


Purple/white Candytuft

This Candytuft I accidentally left after doing my cleaning out the candytufts from the planter. Now it is blooming! I love candytufts but have many seeds to try. They grow fast and with no trouble at all for me. It's not a problem if I want some back again I'll just plant more seeds. I do have some candytufts growing that were from the seeds of the last ones that bloomed. Nothing blooming yet though for those.


Knotweed Blooms


Pink Knotweed Flower

This was a plant that I got from an older women who allowed me to take cuttings from her over grown unkept yard. She didn't know what it was neither did I. My many searches resulted in nothing. Eventually the curiosity started to kill me so I asked on GardenWeb if anyone knew. Of course they did and responded with Knotweed. I really like this vine weed groundcover whatever it is. It has interesting leaves, grows and spreads nicely in and out of it's container, and has cute round blooms in white and pink.


Cocktail Vodka Begonia blooming


Cocktail Vodka Begonias in container blooming nicely

My last bloom are my Cocktail Vodka Begonias. I planted these in a larger pot last week I believe. They were in individual peat pots before and it was a pain to keep them watered right. I gave in and spent my money on some much needed bigger pots. They look great clumped together! I love these so much and see them everywhere around here. Their foliage is a nice change from the normal green on my balcony.