Another evening visit to the garden

 We didn't have to close up today, muddled through with the fans because it only got to the high 70's outside (in the shade). When the sun went down so did the temperature by ten degrees and now at full dark it's a bit cooler than that. Yay for fall! I can breathe easier and don't feel like there's a lot of pressure building.

So in taking my evening walk around and visiting the garden, there was definitely new piles of dirt in the north bed. So much for thinking about planting anything.

That hole is behind the bucket, those piles were not there when I watered yesterday. So they are still there moving and tunneling.

I picked up the bucket to make sure the little twit hadn't tried to come up under there and discovered a nest of crickets. Crickets love wood and dark, damp places. I'm good with that, they aren't really harmful and help break down wood. The bucket was sitting on some pieces of bark so it makes sense.

More dirt around the log pile as well as more holes. I will be so glad to get that raised bed going and not have to worry about an invasion like that. Still just a tad too warm and still too broke to get the bed ready just yet. 

But about them crickets. Everyone hears them but rarely does anyone ever see them. They're all over, you can hear them when it's been warm outside, there are several different species and (other than the Jerusalem Cricket) they are not too ugly and actually are part of the garden break down crew. I mentioned they love hiding in wood piles and under leaf litter, they're really nocturnal type insects as we have heard. They are sort of related to grasshoppers as they have the same long legs and long antennae as well as the same physical shape. Did you know that Katydids are considered a type of cricket? 

Now I mentioned 'Jerusalem Crickets' which are also called Potato bugs which have nothing to do with potatoes nor Jerusalem. But it is the only bug that I have ever ever screamed at seeing. Twice. (if you don't mind bugs and think they're cool, go look it up, not going to put it on this page). First time was when I was with a friend (I was about 8 or 9) and picked up a log and there it was sitting there. We both screamed because it was so frightening looking. Second time, I was an adult camping so there were other people around and picked up a pillow in my tent and there was one right there. I screamed with my mouth closed, ran out of the tent and tried to calm down. A friend came over to find out what was wrong and I told them. They being a good male friend went in, killed it and threw it in the trash. I still can't look at them without my stomach clenching.

Anyway, as ugly as most bugs are they are usually good for the garden. Except katydids and grasshoppers... evil munching machines that's what they are.

Scuse me while I go shake off the heebijeebies about that cricket.