Gladioli

Perhaps it is gladiolas or gladioluses, or is it sword lily?

Take your pick, it does not change their beauty.

Well, I´ve always loved Gladioli and always bought cut flowers at the florist but, until I got my little garden, there has never been a place to plant them.

My first gladiolus was `nova lux´ witch was planted in 2006.
Since then many nice coloured widespread hybrids varieties have been planted.

However there is the ever coming problem named thrips, some nasty little buggers with a big attitude.

These tiny little things suck up the entire nutrient, preventing the flowers to open, and damage the plants and corns.

Last year I had a "good" plan; biochemical war fare, but it rained so much that they probably were washed away, who knows, but the thrips are still around.

This year planting basil, and making basil water for spraying has repelled most of them.