I do not want to be a rose

I do not wish to be pale pink



I'm not really a rose fan. They are lovely as cut flowers and all, but there are others I prefer. And as part of a flower garden, they require a lot of effort and pesticides and rose food and such that in my opinion is really not worth it. However, the mint green 50s style house Adam and I are renting has a whole bunch of roses.

And now that I am basically responsible for these roses I feel like I should do my best to take care of them-mostly because I am afraid the old lady who lived here all her life would likely haunt us if I let them die. Which left me with a dilemma- how do I get rid of aphids and black spot without using pesticides? Surprisingly, it was inexpensive and super easy. I found these recipes on a website about organic gardening:

Against aphids and whiteflies:Garlic Oil Spray

10-15 cloves of minced garlic
2 tbsp. mineral oil
600 ml water
1 tsp. liquid dish soap
Soak garlic in mineral oil for 24 hours. Strain garlic out and add 600 ml water and 1 tsp. liquid dish soap. Mix thoroughly and spray rose plants with the solution. This solution will also kill spider mites and whiteflies.

Fungicide for Mildew and Black Spot
1 tsp. baking soda
1 liter water
1 tsp. soap flakes (I used organic goat soap given to me by one of my clients)
Dissolve baking soda in 1 liter of warm water.
Add soap flakes to help solution cling to leaves. Remove infected leaves from plant and then spray top and bottom of remaining leaf surfaces to control spread of the disease.

Only apply these sprays every 5-7 days.

Both of these sprays worked really well after just one application! You may be asking yourself why I care about not using pesticides- I have lots of reasons, but here's one of them. Mostly I just don't believe in screwing with the environment so I can look at pretty flowers. Try it out and let me know what you think.

the same things you're missing could get you into something else

It's been busy in the Equine Field Service office! Or more correctly, in the giant diesel Chevy that is my mobile office. Why, you ask? It's foal season! Here are some of the kid things I've been dealing with recently:

All currently happy and healthy! Doesn't get much better than that!

In other news, Adam and I are spending my last weekend off before 7 or so weeks of work/on call in Carmel. And now a job for you, loyal readers: any favorite places to visit/restaurants that can't be missed/hiking trails/scenic views that you recommend?

It'll take your God filled soul, and fill it with devils and dust

I really liked this opinion piece in the NY times about the Civil War. Why the Civil War you ask? This past Tuesday was the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War at Ft. Sumter. And in this time of polarizing politics I believe in learning from our mistakes.

I also think that as soon as I finish Moby Dick, I'll tackle the Complete Civil War.

In other news, I have a meeting with my faculty advisor about my NMS grant proposal today! Excited to get this thing off the ground, and more importantly, off my to-do list.

ready steady go!

Is going to her head





So...all geared up for a thrilling night of grant-writing.

Chammomile tea...check!

Inspiring music courtesy of the Empire Records Soundtrack...check!

23 papers about neonatal maladustment syndrome and de novo synthesis of neurohormones meticulously read and cross-referenced and filed..........oh crap.

I vaguely remember them being in the back seat of may car. I am on call tonight so I drove the field service truck home.

Strong feelings of self-loathing...check plus.