Did you know damselflies will eat nearly any other insect and they are extremely good at picking aphids off plants? Or that ground beetles eat caterpillars, not plants?
If you want to find out which beneficial insects you can introduce into your orchid garden to control plant-eating insects, then don’t miss the Long Beach Amateur Orchid Society’s Monday, June 11 meeting at 7 p.m. in the American Legion Post 496, 5938 Parkcrest in Long Beach.
Allison Mia Starcher, author and illustrator of “Good Bugs for Your Garden,” will discuss how gardners can introduce beneficial insects into the garden to eat harmful insects that damage orchids.
She will also bring some beneficial insects to help those interested recognize them. Her book also includes detailed illustrations of beneficials, their larvae, their hosts and plantings to encourage their growth, all presented in a very engaging format.
Allison grew up in Southern California. She has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Illustration from Cal State Long Beach. Her ink-and-watercolor illustrations are both accurate and infused with personality and charm.
She is an illustrator, writer and avid gardener, and her illustrations can regularly be found in Fine Gardening Magazine. She has also appeared on a variety of TV programs discussing gardening methods that encourage good bugs to make gardens their home. A sample of her work can be found on her Web site at www.AllisonStarcher.com.
Allison will bring copies of her book for purchase that she will sign.
