Ants

 Finally I arrived in the garden. The weather was great, warm. I decided to check the greenhouse. Unfortunately, ants settled there last year. Last autumn I poured a lot of pieces of marigolds and dug up the ground so that the pieces of the plant were deeper. They say that ants do not like the smell of marigolds and go to another place.

 

I don’t know what will happen this year, but I want the ants not to crawl on the plants, although they do not spoil them.

So I decided to read about ants, their habits and habitats.
The life of ants is interesting and unusual. Intelligent ants know exactly where everything is, remember landmarks and beacons. In complex labyrinths, they easily find a treat and deliver it to the nest along the shortest paths. The scout ants, having found prey, return to the nest, tell the worker ants where to look and rush off for new trophies. The workers go after what they have found and easily find it without a guide. These workers, harmless in themselves, become the main culprits of the spread of aphids on plants.

 

I want to try sprinkling cinnamon in the greenhouse so that the ants move to another place. I am NOT sure that this is a good solution.

 

And how do you keep ants away from your plants or your house?

P.S. these photos are from the internet

What is interesting about crocus?

 Crocus is one of the very first flowers that bloom in our garden in the spring. These flowers are the first harbingers that it is time to wake up from hibernation and work on the garden. 

The great German philosopher, poet and naturalist Goethe called crocuses spring flowers of joy. Probably because after a harsh winter they are the first harbingers of the awakening of nature. 

 

 

Since ancient times, crocuses have been grown in Assyria, India and Egypt. The ancient Greeks considered crocus a symbol of happiness, the flower of the goddess of the morning dawn Aurora. 

Now crocuses are cultivated as a spicy, dye, medicinal and ornamental plant. Crocus is most widely used because of its valuable product (stigma), which is used in cooking as a seasoning for dishes. The stigma contains the coloring agents croquin and saffron, as well as essential oil with a pleasant smell and taste. 

 

Saffron was known not only as a fragrant agent, as a dye for fabric, as an exquisite seasoning used in royal kitchens, but also as a precious medicine. Descriptions of the medicinal properties of saffron are in Chinese medical books dating back to 2600 BC and in Egyptian texts dating back to 1500 BC. 

 

There are many types of crocuses in nature, among which are yellow, bright blue with purple stripes, and pinkish. The British believe that admiring crocuses sets a romantic mood, instills a desire for travel and noble deeds. 

 

It is recommended to admire the spring purple crocuses more often. This species is especially popular in Great Britain - the Royal Horticultural Society respects it very much not only for the beauty of its forms, but also for its enviable vitality.

Spring Is Coming

The air is already warm. Last week the temperature was +15. I haven't been to the garden yet because of my sore leg, but I was shown photos, and I was inspired by the long-awaited changes.

The soil has not yet warmed up, but in some places the grass is already starting to turn green and the first spring flowers, crocuses and snowdrops are appearing. There is snow on the northern side of the garden. Spring is still cool and windy.

 

Here (below) is what the lawn in front of the summer cottage looked like at the end of March.But the snow quickly melted at the beginning of April.

Every spring you want to see these brave flowers appearing right from under the snow.

It is amazing that the bees woke up so early in the spring and are already collecting nectar from crocuses.

I have already prepared disposable cups for flower and vegetable seedlings at home. A little soil for seedlings was left over from last year and I also received some by order. I hope it will be enough for 30 disposable cups. 

It is difficult to predict the weather in May, when the plants should be actively growing. There are many perennial flowers in the flowerbeds that bloom early in April and in May: tulips, crocuses, daffodils, muscari. I think they will perfectly decorate the modest nature of spring.

Despite the fact that no one has lived in the cottage since October, there is always a lot of work in the house. Hang fresh curtains, air out the carpets, wipe the dust in the rooms, clean the kitchen, etc.

I would like my leg to quickly reach the state when I can walk and climb the stairs. For me, this is very important now.

All the best to everyone.