Harlequin bugs doin' it in our collards

We stopped by the Druid Hill garden yesterday to take a look and found most of our cold weather crops are done done done for the year. No big surprise there. What was surprising, however, was the massive number of crazy little black and orange bugs covering our collards. After we ripped out the plants, the ground was actually writhing with them. A quick look on the Md Extension website and now we have a name for the little creeps: Harlequin bugs. (E visited the garden today and said, "There's a Harlequin bug orgy in our kale.") And because we can, I offer you a picture of Harlequin bugs mating.
Other exciting things from the Druid Hill garden: For the first time ever, we have successfully(ish) done broccoli and cabbage. E brought home about 3 heads of broccoli a few weeks ago, which he later steamed to perfection. Yesterday we found three heads of cabbage too. Small, sure, barely worth picking perhaps, but still three, count 'em, three cabbages! Next year we'll have to try to get them in a little sooner than mid-April and maybe we'll have a respectable harvest.
The Fox St. garden looks like pure death: the peas have all died back, not surprising given that it's been in the 90s for the last couple weeks. The potatoes and shallots are also giving up the ghost. For these, at least, you aren't supposed to harvest them until a few weeks after the plants have died back, so at least things look all a mess on purpose. Still, we were getting impatient and pulled up a couple plants to see how they're doing. The shallots look great -- it's amazing how much one clove? segment? can generate. Not great bunching, but they're coming along! And the potatoes, oh the potatoes. More fun to dig up than I can possibly tell you. Unfortunately we used a big shovel, a trowel not being handy, and severed quite a few of them. Some are still pretty small, so a few weeks more might do well for them too, but it was extremely fulfilling to yank those out of the ground. I guess we can look forward to some sort of potato and egg dishes in the future.( I think these are the purple vikings.)


Reminders:
- Broccoli and Cabbage Transplants from Meyer Seed are great and cheap
- Get moving in March, lazy bones!
- Use a trowel for potatoes.

I see London, I see France...

Lulu's hips are golden. Her spine's not so bad either.

Cats, meet dog. Dog, don't eat cats.

With the realization that squeaky toys have a half-life of 20 minutes, we continued to be a little apprehensive about Lulu's introduction to the cats. The cats were too, to say the least. E installed a six-inch long hook on the basement door to give the cats free access to the basement, but keep the fat-headed dog from chasing them downstairs. The cats took full advantage of this and sat at the top of the basement steps, watching the dog from relative safety. I can only imagine their enthusiasm watching Lulu toss around her squeaky toy like an orca playing with a seal.
At some point, however, the inability to annoy us became overwhelming for Pete, and she ventured out. (I think it took 6 days after we brought Lulu home, and only two days after letting the cats come and go from the basement freely.) Lulu was, of course, extremely interested. After lots of magazine flapping (recommended by a dog trainer - I guess the noise is a distraction) and at least one well-timed swipe on Pete's part, Lulu is a bit bloodier and (hopefully) a little wiser and Pete is hanging out in Garden Cat's spot on the dining room table. So far, the Garden Cat is taking her sweet time.
Obedience lessons start tomorrow! While they probably won't help too much with the cat introductions, we are hopeful that they will eventually help Lulu learn that a pitbull (mix?) jumping on random people is not always welcome, and pulling on the leash like some kind of draft animal is not going to hurry us up. Still, best dog ever. (And no heartworms! So best not-wormy dog ever!) Sorry, Paw: I guess I should clarify best non-Orc dog ever.

Lulabelle! (Lullabelle? Lulubelle?)

After years of debate, and much thought, E and I decided it was time for a dog. Last weekend we went to BARCS, a large shelter downtown, and the MD SPCA to check out our options. Having been warned to visit several dogs (at least), and return at least once to see our favorite again before making a final decision, we did exactly that and eventually settled on "Shy Shy" (ridiculous name, I know), a four year old female surrendered by her previous owners because they were moving.

When we first saw Shy Shy, she was a little frenetic in her kennel, but was so affectionate and attentive we took her out for a visit anyhow. Outside in the dog run, Shy Shy was a much more relaxed, was submissive but not afraid, and was happy to play fetch for a few minutes. Another big perk - the dog waited until we were outside to pee, suggesting she might be housebroken. So, we thought it over for a few more days, decided she seemed pretty perfect, then went back to pick her up. Last Friday, after a two and a half hour wait at the shelter, we picked up Shy Shy, and promptly renamed her Lulabelle - Lulu for short. Now, after a few days at home, Lulu is acclimating well (although she has yet to be fully introduced to the cats), is very easy-going about sleeping in her crate at night, and is indeed house-broken. E and I are loving her guts. Oh, and for those of you worried about her gigantic mouth and some highly hypothetical babies, Lex says "Lulu is the best dog ever and I would be sincerely surprised if she eats your future babies." A few photos below: