While we were on our trip, I did not ask anyone to spray the Hardy Hibiscus, and it stopped flowering due to thrips. I started spraying again when we got home, then noticed something new all over the hibiscus: tiny white flying things.

These seemed to not care about my spray, and were all over. I submitted a photo to iNaturalist and received an answer: white flies. Hm. The description of the white flies says they live on the underside of the leaves, so I looked on my hibiscus, and sure enough, full of flies and eggs.

Internet knowledge said the white flies can be rinsed off with water. So I gave my plant a good rinse, let it dry, then in the morning gave it a good spray with Neem oil, peppermint oil, and castor soap solution. It flowers despite the white flies, so that is something.

First melon harvested! The frogs did their job keeping the bugs down. I’ve been monitoring the bottom of this one and noticed a crack. But it was an untouched area, no sign of insect nibbles.

I freed it from the vine and sling and gave it a wash, then sliced it up. So good! It will probably be even better when it isn’t 100 degrees. A few hours in the fridge should do it, but we couldn’t wait to sample. I’m saving the seeds!

There are several more in various stages of development. Yum.