What happened to my grapevine??
Every fall I wait for the grapevines by the garden to change into brilliant fall colors. Years ago, I planted two small grapes on either side of the gate to the garden. Over time, they have grown up over the rebar arch and have made a lovely shaded entrance.
During the summer, the vines are thick with grapes. Last summer, I thought I would be all Martha Stewart-y and cut the grapes and do something lovely with them. I’m sure the wind was blowing through my hair as I sort of skipped to the garden :). As I was poised to cut a large cluster of grapes, a swarm of bees flew out into my face, and stung me on the nose. If you’ve ever been stung on the nose before, it’s quite the experience. I started uncontrollably sneezing, my eyes were watering so much that I could hardly see to stumble away and get into the house. My nose got rather large and I looked like Jimmy Durante for a few days. The children thought it was funny. So much for my Martha Stewart moment. So, the grapes now stay on the vine.
Last week I went out to the garden and was completely shocked because the grape vine looked completely dead!
Upon closer inspection, I found hundreds of black and yellow caterpillars. They had eaten all the green parts of the leaves and left the veins only.
Reluctantly, I hand picked off the bugs and filled a big plastic cup with the little boogers. They are called the Western Grape Skeletonizer and the caterpillars line up and feed in groups, creating a net-like appearance. Gross. These are the larvae to the adult moth, which is blue-black and about 1/2″ long. The adults produce masses of yellow eggs in early May. I must remember to look for these next spring and destroy any I see.
So, no fall colors from the grapevines this year 🙁 Thankfully I have a picture from the previous year…
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I just found your blog and I am so glad I did. Having read your “about” page, I felt yours was a blog I had to follow. I too lost both of my parents, I am Mother to five fabulous children, and as you so correctly say, our role is ever changing as they grow, ours our now aged from 10 to 20. But I wish my parents could see them growing up now, see what they have achieved in the past couple of years, I wish so much, but we can’t change what has passed. So now we live each day to the fullest, we enjoy every moment. Ours is a fairly down to earth simple life, but I believe it is extremely fulfilling. Cant wait to read more of your posts. Hugs from France, Susan x
Thank you so much for subscribing to my blog! I, of course, love everything French and just subscribed to your blog! I feel like we will become fast friends! Mary
Oh my goodness! The part about the bees and you skipping hair blown to the vine was hilarious LOL. I’m sorry, if that happened to my mom I would laugh too…but we’re the kinda family that laughs at ourselves and each other and your family sounds the same. I can’t believe those bees stung you like that! So the bees were on the grapevine? I was really looking forward to you tell me how delicious those grapes tasted. LOL
The grapevine looks gorgeous in the fall…yeah next time you’ll have to get the eggs before they hatch! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing the grapevine next fall…perhaps the bees will leave you alone this time. LOL