tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post7365352643401816745..comments2024-03-27T16:38:59.108-05:00Comments on clay and limestone: The trouble with Salvias!Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-51350310232384755312023-05-10T08:06:33.707-05:002023-05-10T08:06:33.707-05:00I just found these moths on my black and blue salv...I just found these moths on my black and blue salvia. I could not get as good a photo as you did and was glad to find your post. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-75835928317495585772022-09-23T12:03:20.954-05:002022-09-23T12:03:20.954-05:00We have the destructive pink moth here in central ...We have the destructive pink moth here in central texas as well. Sadly, I’m taking out my Salvia farinacea this fall. It’s impossible to get rid of the caterpillar pests! My milkweeds get oleander aphids regularly too, but my experience is the opposite. The more aphids are present, the more the predatory bugs like wasps come by your plant to eat the honeydew and also all the monarch eggs. The best way to get rid of wasps and aphids is to use a child’s electric toothbrush and brush the aphids off the plants every 3 days. If you keep on top of them, the aphid population won’t explode, and the wasps go elsewhere and won’t eat the butterfly eggs. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-59418133040893502992022-05-16T07:15:26.933-05:002022-05-16T07:15:26.933-05:00In Greenville SC, Salvia gesneriiflora Amistad and...In Greenville SC, Salvia gesneriiflora Amistad and the Salvia guaraniticas will bloom for one week in May before the Southern Pink Moth starts puncturing all the unopened blooms to lay their eggs. This bloom destruction continues all summer. A few other Salvia species grown in my garden appear to be unaffected by this pest. My solution is to cut the plant to the ground when I see the moth or the lack of bloom. These Salvias regrow and bloom in Autumn after the Southern Pink Moth is gone and a week or two before the hummingbirds migrate South. It's an easier solution than constantly pruning the buds off to eliminate the caterpillars. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-89975314927363598072021-01-06T16:42:32.618-06:002021-01-06T16:42:32.618-06:00I have aphids on my milkweed too. At first they a...I have aphids on my milkweed too. At first they annoyed me, but then I learned that many of the predators that eat monarch eggs also eat aphids. So, in a way, the aphids were protecting the monarchs. Now I try to change my mindset when something in nature annoys me. If I can convince myself that aphids are beautiful in their own way, maybe they won’t bother me as much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-13796652358233326172020-08-31T09:38:19.807-05:002020-08-31T09:38:19.807-05:00They are in central Pennsylvania now.I found lots ...They are in central Pennsylvania now.I found lots of them all over my salvia coccinea and I have grown them for years to feed the hummingbirds.They are also on my salvia farinacea. So far none on my black and blue salvia. I am picking them off with tweezers and dropping them in soapy water. Will they be back next year?SusieQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17119609027558159518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-46064966370203594072020-08-14T11:00:56.939-05:002020-08-14T11:00:56.939-05:00For a couple of weeks I noticed holes in fuchsia a...For a couple of weeks I noticed holes in fuchsia and salvia buds, no blooming, and just now see the little aqua caterpillars. If I discard those infected plants, will the new salvia that have not yet bloomed be safe? In Greenville, South Carolina. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-45380416057416654812020-07-09T14:23:38.312-05:002020-07-09T14:23:38.312-05:00I haven't seen these moths, but my salvias def...I haven't seen these moths, but my salvias definitely have several little caterpillars! I only first noticed them when I cut one for a bouquet the other day. I do have to say the caterpillars are beautiful! The ones I've seen have an ombre aqua color scheme. sarah e.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13924085175976558381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-65742420320989633752017-05-24T07:19:21.300-05:002017-05-24T07:19:21.300-05:00Gail, I just found your post, in 2017, while resea...Gail, I just found your post, in 2017, while researching this moth who is currently sitting on my salvia Black and Blue. I've had the salvias for three years now and this is the first year that I have seen the Southern Pink Moth. Thanks for all the info. I'll keep an eye on the little bugger. By the way, I live in Milton, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. DarrinsDaffshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12920564291284359901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-58175251593839680822015-08-15T13:20:31.276-05:002015-08-15T13:20:31.276-05:00wow that is too bad especially with such a beautif...wow that is too bad especially with such a beautiful moth....glad we don' t have them.Donna@Gardens Eye Viewhttp://gardenseyeview.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-45473572029072956042015-08-06T06:55:18.095-05:002015-08-06T06:55:18.095-05:00What a pretty pink moth! It's too bad they ca...What a pretty pink moth! It's too bad they can't be persuaded to feast on something else. Salvia farinacea is a mainstay annual in my garden as is 'Black and Blue.' I sure hope these stealth chompers don't fly north!Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01384059342847120951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-60562575497000454462015-08-05T19:10:54.643-05:002015-08-05T19:10:54.643-05:00Even though their pink wings look SO good against ...Even though their pink wings look SO good against those blue petals, I understand what you must do.Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18281256160705697856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-59950132842078431142015-08-04T15:28:24.109-05:002015-08-04T15:28:24.109-05:00Oh my goodness! I haven't seen any in my garde...Oh my goodness! I haven't seen any in my garden and I hope I never do. At least now I know what to watch for. As always, your pictures are just astounding. Linda Lehmusvirtahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01627888989903582881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-89390190766762250612015-08-04T10:58:38.818-05:002015-08-04T10:58:38.818-05:00I enjoy your posts so much, Gail. You are not alon...I enjoy your posts so much, Gail. You are not alone with insect invasions. I was highly insulted when I found aphids on some of my milkweed. How dare they invade my pollinator garden! I'm doing everything I can to grow plants for wildlife, and I'm not going to resort to pesticides. So I just smush them with my fingers or blast them with water! lynnbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01549022554429697617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-73383949830637836362015-08-03T21:50:57.455-05:002015-08-03T21:50:57.455-05:00Yikes! I'm glad we don't have those little...Yikes! I'm glad we don't have those little pink critters here, as lovely as they are. (At least I don't think we have them.) I have perennial Salvias, and the native bees and honey bees love them. I don't use any chemicals and so far, the Salvias don't seem to be touched, except by the beneficial pollinators. Sounds like you're making the right decision, though. Argh.Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-43531177417849326692015-08-03T21:16:04.065-05:002015-08-03T21:16:04.065-05:00New to me. What a shame to be without salvias. New to me. What a shame to be without salvias. Janet, The Queen of Seafordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876204203323750245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-64707528301764496422015-08-03T18:59:06.057-05:002015-08-03T18:59:06.057-05:00Do they only eat Salvia? I have started planting ...Do they only eat Salvia? I have started planting salvia, since it is so hardy in the hot dry conditions of Texas, but I don't need any more bugs chowing down on my plants.Nellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00099272799280419742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-4946165485652090312015-08-03T11:06:16.793-05:002015-08-03T11:06:16.793-05:00Hmmmmm. I have never seen this moth before. What a...Hmmmmm. I have never seen this moth before. What a shame they are so destructive in the larval form.Lisa at Greenbowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07743973292900758183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-40100277070515787042015-08-03T11:02:33.781-05:002015-08-03T11:02:33.781-05:00Thanks, it has been frustrating...and I will go ba...Thanks, it has been frustrating...and I will go back to not having these pretties in the garden.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-88480434945469012242015-08-03T10:37:12.756-05:002015-08-03T10:37:12.756-05:00I can understand your frustration at having to giv...I can understand your frustration at having to give up planting such a pretty and beloved type of plant. I gave up lilies when I lived in Massachusetts because I just wasn't up to dousing them with anything to get rid of the red lily beetles.Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16323262555906240701noreply@blogger.com