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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Fi on February 13, 2002, at 15:27:11
I know we are in lots of different places (and with apologies to anyone in the south of the southern hemisphere).
But today was the first day I've seen daffodils in bloom this year. Its just such a great feeling to have such a clear sign that winter wont go on for ever.
I know that if you're feeling really rough, this doesnt make a difference. But for those of us who are more susceptible to small encouragements- hooray!
Fi
Posted by Willow on February 13, 2002, at 17:05:11
In reply to Signs of spring!, posted by Fi on February 13, 2002, at 15:27:11
> (and with apologies to anyone in the south of the southern hemisphere).
What about us in the northern hemisphere and woke to almost -30c temps? Every chimney was smoking and for those who were brave enough to venture out were treated to frost beards. Spring? Winter is finally here.
Willow
Posted by sid on February 13, 2002, at 22:58:36
In reply to Signs of spring!, posted by Fi on February 13, 2002, at 15:27:11
Lucky you! It was -22 Celsius when I left for work this morning. No sign of spring here!!!!
Posted by Anna Laura on February 14, 2002, at 1:13:05
In reply to Re: Signs of spring! » Fi, posted by sid on February 13, 2002, at 22:58:36
Lots of Mimosas in blossom: they look ravishing with their feathery foliage and their many tiny yellow-gold leaflets!
It's 15 C here in Italy : I love being here.
It's supposed to get a little bit cold in the next weeks but winter is gone for good i guess!
Posted by IsoM on February 14, 2002, at 1:33:58
In reply to Re: Signs of spring! Spring's here too!, posted by Anna Laura on February 14, 2002, at 1:13:05
Make up a room for me, I'm heading there! :-)
We were supposed to have 11 tomorrow & Friday but they scaled it back to 8. Hope they'll be wrong.We're going to have our outdoor garden section opening next month. Bad idea, I think, because even if it warms up, it'll rain lots & they have it in the open, uncovered. Going to get very wet the next month at work. Spend my days looking like a drowned rat.
I love mimosas. Is there any mimosa trees around you there? Same feathery foliage but sweetly-scented pink blooms. An Italian family nearby has one in their front yard (along with fig trees, pear trees that the husband grafted 4 different variaties on, & many plants & trees they brought over from Italy).
Posted by fi on February 14, 2002, at 9:55:48
In reply to Re: Signs of spring! Spring's here too! » Anna Laura, posted by IsoM on February 14, 2002, at 1:33:58
Sorry- forgot that some of you are further north than me in the Northern hemisphere, or further inland.
Italy sounds very tempting, doesnt it!
Hopefully, you'll get some clear signs too soon- I can assure you if its starting here it will reach you eventually!
Fi
Fi
Posted by Willow on February 14, 2002, at 12:51:47
In reply to Re: Signs of spring- wider apologies, posted by fi on February 14, 2002, at 9:55:48
> Sorry- forgot that some of you are further north than me in the Northern hemisphere, or further inland.
No need to apologize, I love winter and the fun that comes with it. Nice to have a reminder that there's a world outside my little cocoon.
Winking Willow
Posted by Ritch on February 14, 2002, at 14:36:52
In reply to Re: Signs of spring- wider apologies, posted by fi on February 14, 2002, at 9:55:48
> Sorry- forgot that some of you are further north than me in the Northern hemisphere, or further inland.
>
> Italy sounds very tempting, doesnt it!
>
> Hopefully, you'll get some clear signs too soon- I can assure you if its starting here it will reach you eventually!
>
> Fi
>
> FiI live in the Ozarks and the trees are budding all over the place. I have got box elder beetles sunning themselves on the south side of the house. Waitin' for the big snow, we haven't had all winter.
Mitch
Posted by IsoM on February 14, 2002, at 16:36:24
In reply to Re: Signs of spring- wider apologies » fi, posted by Ritch on February 14, 2002, at 14:36:52
E-yuck! Those stupid bugs! How I hated them. When I lived on the Prairies, they were so thick. In fall, they'd fill old houses, crawling through any tiny crack - dropping into your soup, finding them in bed, flying through the air & getting in your hair. No bird, or anything else in its right mind, would eat those things (except my middle son when he was a baby - I had to scoop them from his mouth).
Here, I thought I was going to keep some of my annuals growing through the winter but we finally got a few cold nights & they got killed. :-(
Right now, I have the heat turned off & some windows open, it's so warm in the house from the sun & spring coming.
Posted by Ritch on February 15, 2002, at 0:42:45
In reply to Box Elder Bugs » Ritch, posted by IsoM on February 14, 2002, at 16:36:24
> E-yuck! Those stupid bugs! How I hated them. When I lived on the Prairies, they were so thick. In fall, they'd fill old houses, crawling through any tiny crack - dropping into your soup, finding them in bed, flying through the air & getting in your hair. No bird, or anything else in its right mind, would eat those things (except my middle son when he was a baby - I had to scoop them from his mouth).
>
> Here, I thought I was going to keep some of my annuals growing through the winter but we finally got a few cold nights & they got killed. :-(
> Right now, I have the heat turned off & some windows open, it's so warm in the house from the sun & spring coming.
I had to spray them down with Diazinon a couple of years ago, but they are coming back big time. Every time there is an El Nino they get really bad. I never have trouble with them getting in the house, but that might change this year, judging by the two large masses of them I saw. I am trying to figure out what the heck they are EATING.IF it would get cold enough it would knock out a lot of them (about -10F at nite for about two-three weeks)!
Mitch
Posted by IsoM on February 15, 2002, at 1:36:03
In reply to Re: Box Elder Bugs » IsoM, posted by Ritch on February 15, 2002, at 0:42:45
Horrid things feast on the sap from the box elder tree, aka as the Manitoba maple. If you pick up one & turn it over, you'll see a long , thin proboscis folded flat underneath their body. They don't go through metamorphism like most insects, but hatch from eggs into nymphs (like grasshoppers) & progressively grow larger. That's why you see them in diff sizes.
Seriously, if you get something like a blowtorch, rake them into a large group & burn them. It's the safest & most effective ways to treat them. They're pretty tough regarding poisons.
Posted by Ritch on February 15, 2002, at 10:42:26
In reply to Box Elder Bugs Eat Box Elder Sap » Ritch, posted by IsoM on February 15, 2002, at 1:36:03
> Horrid things feast on the sap from the box elder tree, aka as the Manitoba maple. If you pick up one & turn it over, you'll see a long , thin proboscis folded flat underneath their body. They don't go through metamorphism like most insects, but hatch from eggs into nymphs (like grasshoppers) & progressively grow larger. That's why you see them in diff sizes.
>
> Seriously, if you get something like a blowtorch, rake them into a large group & burn them. It's the safest & most effective ways to treat them. They're pretty tough regarding poisons.
Aha, so it is the *sap* of a maple. I finally went to a conservation department website and found they feast on leaves of "silver maples" and one other tree that is not indigenous to here. The weird thing is they got really bad just before my neighbor's *maple* tree got cut down. But the maple tree has been gone for two years now and they are coming back. The nearest tree is a large oak, and then a walnut. When I did spray them (once), it really nailed their ass though. They also were laying little rose colored eggs all over. That is when I realized they were out of control.
Here's that link, they got all sorts of bugs in there:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/index.html
Posted by jane d on February 15, 2002, at 10:56:13
In reply to Re: Box Elder Bugs Eat Box Elder Sap » IsoM, posted by Ritch on February 15, 2002, at 10:42:26
> Here's that link, they got all sorts of bugs in there:
> http://www.ext.vt.edu/index.htmlNow THAT is a great web site. Thanks.
Posted by Fi on February 15, 2002, at 14:40:43
In reply to Bug web site » Ritch, posted by jane d on February 15, 2002, at 10:56:13
Posted by IsoM on February 15, 2002, at 15:30:52
In reply to Fascinating where threads go :) (nm), posted by Fi on February 15, 2002, at 14:40:43
It is, isn't it? An earlier one had 'gone to the dogs' & now this one is just starting to 'bug' me. ;-)
Posted by Ritch on February 16, 2002, at 1:17:03
In reply to Bug web site » Ritch, posted by jane d on February 15, 2002, at 10:56:13
> > Here's that link, they got all sorts of bugs in there:
> > http://www.ext.vt.edu/index.html
>
> Now THAT is a great web site. Thanks.Gee thanks a lot. I actually went there after I posted it and realized it was a spot WAY before bugs get identified. Here is the BUG identification spot:
http://www.ento.vt.edu/Facilities/OnCampus/IDInfo.html
Posted by Fi on February 16, 2002, at 8:16:06
In reply to Re: Fascinating where threads go :) » Fi, posted by IsoM on February 15, 2002, at 15:30:52
Loud groans!!! Please, please, enough of the puns already!! Clever, tho...:)
Fi
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