I lift up my paws when those awful worms are near ME!
Well, mama LOVES nasties, as her good friend used to call them, but not because they were nasty, but because it’s a cute name and mama’s friend loved them, too. Mama doesn’t even have to plant them any longer because they re-seed themselves each year and make a lovely background green for the rest of the plants. Plus the flowers are really tasty in salads and the leaves can be used as little ‘plates’ for say, a scallop mousse or any little custard or vegetable terrine that come out of a mold.
.
I’m for the mousse myself…
BUT–horreur of horrors! Mama saw that the leaves were being munched by something and knew immediately that an infestation of chenilles was about to happen–tiny little green stripy worms that travel in packs across our sidewalks, stretched out in a chain, head to tail, so to speak, and threaten our lovely pine trees and plants here in the village, and bite unsuspecting curious touchers!
They really are insidious and must never be messed with!
So mama is out there cutting them in half with scissors. Didn’t know she had that wild side to her, did you?
Those guys don’t know what hit them, but they don’t come back easily. Uh, oh, maybe they are the kind that turn into TWO worms when you cut them in half!!! OH, NO…
MAMA, DON’T CUT THEM INTO QUARTERS!!!
Haha, just kidding, because when mama snips them, they are definitely chenilles coupées mortes, haha.
Wow! My momma is not much of a gardener but if these flowers are tasty she just might try them and she will also be on the lookout for those nasty stripes worms. Thank you for the advice!
Well, I think these awful worms are indigenous (whatever that is) to our part of France. Mama NEVER saw them in LA.
That’s good to know. Thank you
The worms have left…I probably scared them.
EEK, LOULOU – don’t touch them!! Tempting, but toxic!! I remember in Collioure there were bags on the trees that attracted the chenilles to come inside and ZAP – can’t remember if they were poisoned, or just couldn’t get ut! Maybe they have those at the mairie? We don’t have those here (I don’t think so, anyway) but we have beasties that are eating the palm trees! Yesterday we passed a beautiful building with a huge palm tree that had been cut down. VERY sad to see. But they’re spraying and trying to save the palm trees. Fingers crossed!!
Mama thinks all of this has to do with our changes on the planet. And Mr T says it’s not happening. Oy, vay.
Yikes! Glad your mama is the mad scissor lady when it comes to those worms! Save the nasties, mama!
I thought she was a DOGGY.
Maybe your mama should let you at ‘em, Loulou. We bet you’d give them what for.
Oh, no, I’m not going anywhere NEAR those guys. They bite animals, too.
Meowza, The Female Human let out a little shriek when she saw the picture of that worm. She has an issue with anything that doesn’t have legs. We did like the pretty flower photo too.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Oliver
Oh, thank you for visiting, Oliver. And yes, some worms are pretty formidable. Have you ever seen a tomato hornworm…Talk about eeeks. Maybe I’ll tell the story.
Wow, pretty flowers but The Female Human let out a little shriek when she saw the worm. She has an issue with anything that doesn’t have legs. Also, she is not the best gardener but she’s learning.
Merci for the gardening info and the pretty photos.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Oliver
Hey, I just answered this comment. Wha???
Oh, no! We’re surprised the birds aren’t helping themselves to these pests.
I think their taste is not to birds’ liking…
Or she could try the cure for garden slugs – set out saucers of beer. Then Mama could catch them more easily while they stagger around.
Mama used to use beer, too, for slugs and snails but there wasn’t much left in the bottle, haha. Just kidding. Mama finall spread mulch and the snails couldn’t get through it. Also sand helps, just a little, because they don’t like it on their tunmies.
There’s another thing you can probably use to kill all kinds of bugs, snail, worms, etc. Diatomaceous Earth. It cuts through their exoskeletons and kills them. You have to be careful to not breathe it though.
Wow, might try that. With a mask, mama!