Dismal day... I think I'm just going to wind up pulling up all my tomato plants b/c with all that the bugs have done to them they are just too small and unappealing to actually eat. I've never thought I would be so utterly defeated by bugs. Just sad.

For next time I have to clean out ALL the brush that's growing in my backyard. I'm not sure what it is that's growing back there, but it's extremely tall and multiplies like little plant bunnies. I see the stinkbugs in the thick of them and am pretty sure that's where they're mostly living and breeding. I've never had them this bad and the brush back there has never been this out of control so I'm thinking it's a fitting cause and effect correlation. So weak...

BUT, we've pulled off about a dozen squash already. Countless stir frys have been made :) My red bougainvillea have "bloomed" so to speak and I've gotten some of the angel trumpets to sprout. I'll be very happy to have those back again, as they are just so elegant and pretty. Always gotta look for the silver lining.

The stinkbugs are continuing to run rampant. They are out in droves and I kill at least 15 everyday, and that's NO exaggeration...
All the bugs are really getting to me this year. They reduced my verbena to tatters, ate the lavatera to nothing, are hitting my Okra, stunted my broccoli, giving my tomatoes cloudy spot among countless other things. I can't takes no more!

In other, happier news, my squash plants are totally kicking. They are so rewarding b/c they grow like champs and have given me no problems so far. Fingers crossed.

And my Hibiscus finally bloomed. These things are always sooooo late. Drive around and see them in full bloom all over the place when mine look dormant. They could be a little retarded is all i'm saying. Plus the pink one I have didn't even bloom all last season!

Maybe I should change the soil in the pots and add some fertilizer, and that'll get it going. Its worth a try.

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Ok, re-potted all three of them together in a huge clay pot. The roots looked terrible. I felt bad about myself when I saw them like that. I've been potting things up wrong for a while tho, so they're been growing horrible. Was putting off studying b/c Victory Garden was on PBS and according to them, here is how to plant properly in a large container:

* put a crock over the bottom drainage hole (it bows up and makes sure soil does not clog the hole to ensure drainage)
* fill about 1/2 of the pot with some course material (I used thick chunked mulch) to ensure drainage
* fill most of the way up with POTTING MIX. I've been using composted soil and garden soil and apparently you can't do this b/c it just compacts too much in the pot and will stifle growth.
* add some slow release fertilizer (i used some Osmote (sp?) stuff with the happy pink lid) to the potting mix layer
* add your plants
* mulch (b/c mulching = caring)