You will know that Ray's garden is his pride and joy. The box hedge, seen here left, was grown from small plants, and lovingly tended and shaped to make a location for the marble barn owl sculpture.
A few days ago Ray discovered the hedge overrun with box tree caterpillars.
The pic on the right shows the damage already done to the largest part of the hedge.
In the centre pic: I managed to capture a box tree caterpillar still working on the hedge (as soon as the shadow of the camera crosses them they dive down into the hedge). You can just see the ''webbing' they create to work within for their destruction.
To date Ray has 'picked off' around 130 caterpillars. When the 'stuff' arrives from Amazon...............
I'm out in Italy now and the caterpillar is a REAL PEST! I truly sympathise. We have a lovely old box hedge that muggins here has had to keep spraying to keep the little monsters at bay....
I've pulled out mine, RHS says nothing at present will kill the moth and its caterpillers! I now have a lovely empty space which I've filled with bulbs and cyclamen! Give my condolences to Ray xx
This is so sad to see this Hazel! I have had my whole passion fruit plant devoured by caterpillars! Now I am spraying whatever is needed to avoid it in the future. I feel for you and Ray .
I do not, so far, have any experience with box tree caterpillars 🐛 I do know the pain of having beloved plants destroyed by a pest that seems to be resistant to most types of allowable sprays or chemicals. I feel for Roy and I hope that he can still save this hedge and bring it back again for next year.
Between your commentary and the wonderful triptych, you've sure shown the horrible damage these nasty little guys can do quickly. Hoping Ray's able to reverse this battle!
Thank you everyone for messages of support and encouragement and it's some small consolation to know our garden is not the only one among 365ers to suffer this fate. I suggested replacing the hedge with a different variety but Ray, the intrepid gardener, is intent on rescuing his box hedge. Watch this space!
@quietpurplehaze Are you RHS members? They're doing research at Wisley to find alternatives to our beloved box, it's an interesting area of little green hedges
@milaniet @tunia @phil_howcroft @gardencat @happypat @dide @joysabin @lyndamcg @wendyfrost @gijsje @seattlite @carole_sandford @ludwigsdiana @30pics4jackiesdiamond @will_wooderson
Interesting, I'll pass that on to Ray, thanks, Jackie. (Just off to the seaside for breakfast!)