I just thought I'd revise this thread since we are in the depths of spider mite season here . . . again! I've grown dahlias for years and the mites are my worse problem. Oh yeah, the earwigs eat holes in the leaves and then wreck the petals but the mites have even killed my plants! This is a hot, dry part of the country and the Colorado State U website TrowelGal recommended comments on the problems with mites in those conditions. Also, they say that Isotox is effective. I've been using that pesticide weekly and still the mites always show up in a major way. (Suspect that Cheryl would NOT want to risk her toads to Isotox for good reason.) I once worked in a rose greenhouse and the head grower was convinced that washing the plants did nearly as much good as spraying them with a miticide. But, it was in combination that the system worked best. Blasting the mites off the plants with water, allowing the foliage to dry, then spraying was most effective. It works fairly well for me also probably because the mites on the ground nearly always get sprayed whereas the mites under the leaves may be shielded. Contrary to what may have been said about my aim - I can hit the floor with both my hat and the bug spray. My question, is there anything else I can be doing? Unlike Lola, my experience using neem was absolutely unsatisfactory. And Cheryl, did you give up on dahlias? Look, I've battled the mites on dahlias for well over a decade and still put out hundreds of tubers each year. I don't think a self-respecting toad would come anywhere close to this arid landscape so I don't have them to worry about but, gosh, seeing those bright, beautiful blooms every year is worth an effort. Steve

Here's a picture, as well-sorry if the quality isn't so good, this camera is an old canon that's gone through water damage. Also, no idea why the Gypsy Pepper(far right) seems so leggy. They get plenty of direct sun every day... granted they were supposed to be sowed directly but the soil where I am is essentially a marsh-bathtub. Nasty, yucky, and compact like heck with limestone only a foot or so below it. But, yeah.. Here is a link that might be useful:

emerald..thank you for posting. I just read your thread...my goodness you have so much strength on your journey. I am wishing you the best of luck and will continue to follow your story as well. Here are some pics from the past couple days. We just finished the second day of riding. Lovely weather today . Did 50K yesterday and today. DH was riding quite fast in front today and missed a turn. I didn't realize it till a bit had passed. We waited and waited in town and he finally showed up ! What a worry I had for a couple of hours ! All is well and he won't ride so far out in front and alone again . start of the ride at the hostel in Vienna on the 30th: some of the many riders...we are 50 strong ! It includes 3 folks who are riding with their arms as the " wheel turners...a bras ...as the French say. A wheel chair like affair for one and the other two have their legs braced out in front of them...and use cranks to turn the tires..all 3 had polio as children. the center of Tulln, yesterday where we spent the night in another hoste..it is the rose city...I didn't get enough pics of the roses...they are astounding !! And the fragrance... DH all set to start his first tour ! Tulln is also noted for their strawberry fields ...yum !! new friends at dinner tonight. the remains of one of the 2 Flammkuchen...it was fantastic ..arugula, pesto and prosciutto the Danube path...Velo 6 picture from the dorm roon where we are staying tonight in Klems Austria. the wide and beautiful Danube. that's enough pics ;) WIll keep you posted as able. So different from my previous tours but really really fun !! And such great new folks...we have already been invited to stay with the couple on the right of the pic at their 30 acre vineyard in NZ...we get to pick grapes too. c Thank you all for your truly lovely and encouraging notes. c

Glenda, it's already there...we thought about escaping this FL weather on a bahamas cruise but found it almost as bad there. heck the Keys were only in the 50's yesterday :-0 we're having record breaking cold over a record breaking length of time. orlando & Jax will have sleet and freezing roads tonight and there's a snow watch on for orlando for tomorrow! OIA will still be on an ice-ing alert for Fri-Sat a.m. orange juice jumped 8% in the last few days and apparently FL supplies 75% of produce during this time of yr to the rest of the country (according to NBC news) and most of that is toasted. so expect high prices on anything not grown in your own garden basically. glad we didn't put too many tender veggies in yet. it will be nice for all the weeds and bugs thou LOL! ~ liz