Garden in M'sia (Day 85: 07-12-2017)
Above: There were plenty of these jewels (Cheilomenes sexmaculata ladybugs) to brighten up the otherwise pretty dull garden.
Previously
This will be a short entry, due to the rather short gap between my previous visit and the most recent visit. In 5 days, nothing much really changed, the bean cover crops in the main plot deteriorated, mealybugs increased in numbers, aphids seemed to decrease. Lots of adult Cheilomenes sexmaculata were seen, and Scymnini ladybug larvae were aplenty too. Long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) were dancing around in large numbers too.
The heat (seriously, it was scorching hot on that day, and the few days prior) must have exacerbated the decline of the beans, and the Kyllinga nemoralis grass was popping up in the empty spaces. Some Zoysia and Emilia sonchifolia, along with other weeds, were also observed. I spent most of the day observing the ladybugs and syrphid flies, but also did some weeding and planting of mung beans.
Above: A cycad blue (Chilades pandava) depositing an egg on a Vigna bean plant. Strange, considering their host plants are supposed to be cycads (Cycas spp.), which my beans are definitely not.
The marigold (Tagetes sp.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum) seemed to be coming along decently, while the butterfly peas seemed to be spreading too (no flowers on that day though).
Above: Marigold (Tagetes sp.) growing up just a little.
Below: The largest sweet basil plant (Ocimum basilicum) with its aromatic leaves.
The kitchen plot had nice cover crops, and the Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus) and Longevity spinach (Gynura procumbens) had begun to take root. Some of the laksa plants (Persicaria odorata) seemed to be recovering too.
We plan to grow tamarind (Tamarindus indica) in a pot outside the windows to provide some shade and cooling. Hopefully that and the neem (Azadirachta indica) will take off, although I have my doubts that the neem will survive heavy rains, given how the current potting mix may not drain well enough and we currently have a uncontrolled self-watering system (just an overturned bottle with a tiny hole). Let's hope I'm wrong though.
I will not be visiting for a while (probably for the next 2 months or longer), so I hope to come back to a flourishing garden!
Some really cool videos:
NSFW pic: Mating Cheilomenes sexmaculata
Above: The tiny egg laid by the cycad blue butterfly. Confusing, just like my immediate future.