Gardens and Guineas

Well, I learned a valuable lesson this season.  Don't depend on the guineas to keep my garden pest- free.  Oh, and taking the easy way out doesn't always turn out the way I want it to.  I should have remembered that God told Adam, "cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" and, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (or, pumpkin, as the case may be).  Genesis 3:17 and 19.

The whole reason I got the guineas was so that they'd eat the squash bugs and I wouldn't have to spend time sweating on my hands and knees searching for those squash bugs and their eggs.  And they did keep the garden squash bug free at the beginning of the season.  I was feeling pretty cocky.  My boutique pumpkin vines were big and healthy and blooming.  They took up half the garden and were reaching for more space.

But...I guess the guineas found greener pastures.  They wanted what was on the other side of the fence.  They roamed further and further afield.  Sure, we don't have a grasshopper problem, or an army worm problem.  There's hardly a tick to be found.  But, in the garden, this is what happened...

The squash bugs built themselves a kingdom.  By the time I realized how powerful they had become, it was too late.  The pumpkin vines were desimated. 

I didn't get one useable pumpkin.  There will be no boutique pumpkin sale at the farmer's market this year.  I am so bummed.